Please, dress the children

Question

I am used to saying: I get dressed early in the morning. That means it is a reflexive verb. But I have just seen this: please, dress the children.

I mean, I would say:

I get dressed.

I dress you.

I dress him.

And so on, is it like this?

Thank you.

Answer 1

I am used to saying: I get dressed early in the morning. That means it is a reflexive verb.

To use the verb "to dress" reflexively you would say "to dress oneself".

I dress myself in the morning.

But I have just seen this: please, dress the children.

"Dress the children" is the command. The subject could be anyone not in the first person - you, he, she, or they. The addition of please is a way to soften the command and make it more polite.

Answer 2

Hi nila45. yes you have it correct if you are telling or ordering that person, then you would say "dress the children". A nicer way is to ask "can you please dress the children" you are right with "I get dressed" ..ETC