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Questions & Answers about Пожалуйста, подождите здесь.
What is the role of Пожалуйста in this sentence?
Пожалуйста acts as a politeness marker—much like “please” in English. It sets a courteous tone for what follows by softening the command given in the sentence.
Why is there a comma after Пожалуйста?
The comma separates the politeness marker from the main command. In Russian, this punctuation helps highlight that Пожалуйста is an introductory element, clarifying that the following verb (подождите) is the core instruction.
What is the form of подождите, and why is this form used here?
Подождите is the imperative form of the verb подождать (to wait) used for addressing either more than one person or one person in a formal context. Its use signals that the command is meant to be polite and respectful. In informal settings, the alternative подожди might be used instead.
How does Russian indicate formality in commands through the use of verb forms like подождите?
Russian distinguishes between formal/plural and informal singular commands. The ending -ите in подождите denotes that the request is either directed at multiple people or is formal when addressing a single person. For a more casual command to one person, подожди (with the -и ending) would be appropriate.
What function does the adverb здесь serve in the sentence, and is its placement important?
Здесь means “here” and specifies the location where the waiting should occur. Its position at the end of the sentence is natural in Russian, as it clearly indicates where the action should take place. Although Russian has flexible word order, placing здесь at the end typically delivers the clearest instruction regarding location.
Can the elements in the sentence be rearranged while maintaining clarity and politeness?
Yes, Russian word order is relatively flexible. For example, you might say Подождите, пожалуйста, здесь. However, regardless of slight rearrangements, keeping здесь at or near the end generally ensures that the location remains clear. The original structure (Пожалуйста, подождите здесь.) is common and natural for conveying a polite command.