You Turn Left, Then You: Live Instructions

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You Turn Left, Then You: Live Instructions

In this lesson, you can use you-statements for live instructions.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Choose a short recording.

Before you start

Give one simple instruction for borrowing an item.

See one possible response

Choose a game.

You demonstrate how to borrow a game from a fictional community cupboard.

What you will practise
  • Use you-statements for live instructions.
  • Change an instruction without changing the action.
  • Give a clear sequence of actions and results.

Answer first. Then check one model. Keep the meaning and the target pattern.

You + present simple in a demonstration

When you show someone how to do something, you can say First, you open the box. Then you choose a card. The actions are instructions for the listener, not necessarily their usual habits. The setting gives the present simple its purpose.

First, you choose a game.

Then you write your name here.

The blonde gives a concise instruction with an open-hand gesture while the curly-haired woman reaches to open the lid of one clear lidded storage jar. Show this one action and its relevant object, no labels or abstract grammar graphics.
Open the lid.The imperative has no expressed you here.

Statements and commands

Open the lid and You open the lid can both guide an action in the right context. The first is an imperative; the second is a statement used in a demonstration. Do not add s after you. Keep the subject when you choose the statement version.

You press this button to start.

Press this button to start.

Sequence and checks

Use first, then, next and finally to organise the process. Add a short check when needed: Is that clear? A description of what the device does uses its own subject: You press here, and the light comes on.

Next, you close the lid, and the light comes on.

Finally, you return the key to the desk.

The action and its result have different subjects

Your action
youpress start

You press start.

The device result
the lightcomes on

The light comes on.

You press start, and the light comes on. Use press after you; use comes after the singular subject the light.
The blonde demonstrates the first step by lifting the lid from the same clear storage jar while the curly-haired woman follows attentively. Focus on a guided demonstration expressed as a statement, no invented second step or extra objects.
First, you open the lid.The context makes the statement a step in a demonstration.

Guided practice

Say or write your answer first. Then compare the meaning and grammar with the model.

1. A guide points at a machine and says First, you turn this handle. Is this a live instruction or necessarily a daily habit?

Compare a model and explanation

A live instruction.

The demonstration context supplies its purpose.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

2. Then you writes your name.

Compare a model and explanation

Then you write your name.

You takes write, not writes.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

3. Put the card here. Use You.

Compare a model and explanation

You put the card here.

The action is preserved in a statement.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

4. You close the box. Make it an imperative.

Compare a model and explanation

Close the box.

Remove the ordinary subject for this command.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

5. finally / key / return / you / the

Compare a model and explanation

Finally, you return the key.

The sequence marker introduces a complete statement.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

6. You press here, and the screen ___. Use opens.

Compare a model and explanation

opens

The screen is third-person singular.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

7. Every day, you open the shop at nine. Watch: first, you open this flap. Which describes a demonstration?

Compare a model and explanation

The second.

Watch and first establish the live process.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

8. Choose a game; write your name; take the game; return it next week. Explain with four sequence markers.

Compare a model and explanation

First, you choose a game. Then you write your name. Next, you take the game home. Finally, you return it next week.

The four statements form an ordered procedure.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

A short conversation

Listen to the exchange, then take one role. The speaker labels identify roles; do not narrate them.

Open the conversation transcript

Helper: First, you choose a game and check that all the pieces are here.

Visitor: Then do I write my name?

Helper: Yes. You write it on this list, and then you take the game home.

Visitor: Okay. Finally, I return it next week.

Listening checks

Listen to each extract, then choose the best answer. These three questions have their own score.

1. What is the speaker doing?
Read the listening transcript

Watch me. First, you lift the handle. Then you pull the drawer out.

2. What happens before opening the lid?
Read the listening transcript

You press the blue button, and the light comes on. Then you open the lid.

3. What does finally mark?
Read the listening transcript

Finally, you put the card back in the box. Is that clear?

Answer key with explanations

  1. What is the speaker doing?

    Explaining a process.: Watch me and the ordered actions establish a demonstration.

    Compare all choices
    • Describing the listener’s lifelong routine.: The context is instructional, not a life history.
    • Reporting a completed past event.: The actions are presented as a procedure.
    • Explaining a process.: Watch me and the ordered actions establish a demonstration.

  2. What happens before opening the lid?

    The button is pressed and the light comes on.: Both precede then you open.

    Compare all choices
    • The button is pressed and the light comes on.: Both precede then you open.
    • The speaker leaves the room.: No departure is mentioned.
    • The lid is closed for the last time.: That is not the stated earlier step.

  3. What does finally mark?

    The last step in this explanation.: Finally organises the end of the procedure.

    Compare all choices
    • The first step.: It marks the opposite end.
    • The last step in this explanation.: Finally organises the end of the procedure.
    • Proof that the card can never be used again.: It does not make that permanent claim.

Mastery quiz

Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.

1. Choose a demonstration statement.
2. Change Open the box to a you-statement.
3. Change You check the label to an imperative.
4. What determines whether you open describes a habit or a live instruction?
5. Complete: You press here, and the light ___ on.
6. Which marker usually introduces the last step?
7. Choose a coherent sequence.
8. Which sentence separates the user’s action from the device’s response?
Answer key with explanations

  1. Choose a demonstration statement.

    First, you turn the handle.: It uses you + present simple to guide an action.

    Compare all choices
    • First, you turns the handle.: Turns does not agree with you.
    • First, you turn the handle.: It uses you + present simple to guide an action.
    • First, you turning the handle.: A finite verb is missing.

  2. Change Open the box to a you-statement.

    You open the box.: The same action is expressed as a statement.

    Compare all choices
    • You opening box the.: The verb and noun phrase are incomplete or misplaced.
    • You opens the box.: You does not take opens.
    • You open the box.: The same action is expressed as a statement.

  3. Change You check the label to an imperative.

    Check the label.: The imperative uses the base verb without the ordinary subject.

    Compare all choices
    • Check the label.: The imperative uses the base verb without the ordinary subject.
    • Checks the label.: The imperative does not take third-person s.
    • To you checking the label.: This is not a complete imperative.

  4. What determines whether you open describes a habit or a live instruction?

    The surrounding situation and wording.: The same tense form can serve different purposes.

    Compare all choices
    • Present simple can only describe permanent facts.: Its uses are wider.
    • The surrounding situation and wording.: The same tense form can serve different purposes.
    • The verb open always means a habit.: That ignores demonstration uses.

  5. Complete: You press here, and the light ___ on.

    comes: The light is third-person singular.

    Compare all choices
    • come: The ordinary present form needs s for this subject.
    • coming: A finite verb is needed.
    • comes: The light is third-person singular.

  6. Which marker usually introduces the last step?

    Finally.: It signals the final stage of the account.

    Compare all choices
    • Finally.: It signals the final stage of the account.
    • Before.: Before expresses a time relationship, not this last-step marker on its own.
    • First.: This normally introduces the beginning.

  7. Choose a coherent sequence.

    First, you choose a card. Then you read it.: The stages are clearly ordered.

    Compare all choices
    • Finally, you choose a card. First, then card you.: The second part is not a complete instruction.
    • First, you choose a card. Then you read it.: The stages are clearly ordered.
    • You choosing a card and reads it.: The verb forms do not fit you.

  8. Which sentence separates the user’s action from the device’s response?

    You turn the key, and the door opens.: Different subjects identify the action and result.

    Compare all choices
    • The door turn you key.: The participants are not arranged correctly.
    • You turn the key and you opens.: The second verb form is incorrect and the result lacks its proper subject.
    • You turn the key, and the door opens.: Different subjects identify the action and result.

Use it in your own words

Show a simple task

Explain three steps in a familiar task using you-statements.

Reveal a possible response

First, you open the notebook. Then you write the date. Finally, you add your notes.

  • Use base forms after you
  • Mark a sequence

Keep the task familiar and low-risk.

Two ways to guide

Give two steps first as commands and then as demonstration statements.

Reveal a possible response

Choose a card. Read the question. You choose a card, and then you read the question.

  • Preserve the actions
  • Change the sentence form deliberately

Other simple procedures are acceptable.

Put it all together

Explain how to join a fictional book-sharing club. Include a permission, a maximum or minimum, a sequence, and one clear exception.

Reveal a possible response

You’re allowed to borrow books after you register. First, you write your name. Then you choose up to two books. You can borrow any book except the large reference book. Finally, you return the books the next week.

  • Retrieve permission and a limit
  • Use present-simple instructions
  • State an exception
  • Keep the sequence usable

Use another harmless club process with similarly clear conditions.

Take it with you

Present-simple you-statements can guide a live process. Imperatives also give instructions. Distinguish what the user does from what happens next.