straight before a verb makes it a polite request. It opens the request; the subject, when there is one, goes before it.
English "please" can go at the end of a sentence; 请 cannot.
A request not to do something takes 请不要 or 请别.
。
Please don't smoke here.
请问 to open a question
Before asking a stranger anything, is the standard opener: "excuse me, may I ask".
，？
Excuse me, where's the bathroom?
Softening further
after the verb makes the request sound small and quick.
after an adjective asks for "a bit more" of it.
。
Could you give me a hand?
。
Please speak a bit more slowly.
请 with a person
请 + person + verb means asking or inviting someone to do something.
请 as "to treat"
请 also means paying for someone, usually a meal.
。
I'll take you out to eat today.
is the verb-object compound for the same thing: 谁请客 asks who is paying.
Lingaku