The speech of 18 children aged 4;1 to 7;1 during role-playing sessions simulating family, doctor, and classroom situations was analyzed for the use of directives. Six categories of directive formula types were identified, and the use of each of these in each context was examined with a view to determining the child's sense of what directive is appropriate for a given role. The data suggest that children are aware very early of status associated with certain roles and relationships whether that status is related to age, sex, or occupation), and have the verbal skills necessary to mark this in their communicative behavior. By age four, children employ the full range of directive types found in adult speech, and they systematically modify the realization of directives in response to the social context. (Author/JB)