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How to make requests in English

The document provides guidance on making requests in English, emphasizing the use of polite expressions and different grammatical structures such as 'can', 'could', 'may', and 'would'. It includes examples of direct requests, asking for permission, and the nuances of negative questions. Additionally, it offers conversational examples and exercises to practice forming requests appropriately.

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Mariana Soares
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11 views

How to make requests in English

The document provides guidance on making requests in English, emphasizing the use of polite expressions and different grammatical structures such as 'can', 'could', 'may', and 'would'. It includes examples of direct requests, asking for permission, and the nuances of negative questions. Additionally, it offers conversational examples and exercises to practice forming requests appropriately.

Uploaded by

Mariana Soares
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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How to make requests in English?

When we want some information or ask someone for something we have to form
simple sentences to make us as clear as possible.

- Can you give me a hand?


- Could you do me a favor?
- Would you mind driving me home?
- Will you take me home?

To make requests in English, you should know more about these next grammar
structures:

- Expressions with can, could, will, would


- Direct requests with verbs such as “need” and “want”.
- Expressions with would you mind
- Expressions with do you mind if.

Tip: Very often you’ll hear the expression “I am afraid...” which has different meanings
depending on the situation. For example, when you ask someone out and the person
says: “Oh, I am afraid I can’t make it” she/he is actually saying: “I am sorry, I won’t be
able to go.”

Ask for permission:


Asking for permission is also a request and has the same word order.
Follow the next few examples:

Could
The structure:

Could Pronoun Verb Object + ?


Could You turn off the tv?

More examples:

Could you help me?


Could I borrow your phone for a minute?
Could you carry this for me please?
Could you call me a uber please?
Could they wait for me here?
Could you check the computer?
Could you make some copies for me please?

May
The structure:

May Pronoun Verb Object + ?


May I Turn off the tv?

- May I come in? – Yes, sure.

Can
The structure:

Can Pronoun Verb Object +?


Can you turn off the tv?

More examples:

Mom, can you wake me up at seven o’clock?


Can you pass me the remote?
Can you buy me a ticket?
Can I borrow some money for the party?
Can you help me with these reports?
Can we have the day off tomorrow?
Can you stop by my house?

Will
The structure

Will Pronoun Verb Object + ?


Will You Turn off The tv?

Examples:

- Will you send me that important document?


- Will you send me an email with the files?

Want/ Need
The structure:

I Need/want You Verb Objecto


I Need/want You To call My assistant

- I need you to go to my office.


- She needs you to run a few errands.
- I want you to go to the hospital.
- She wants you to work overtime.

Other structures with would, would you mind and do you mind:

- Would you like to go to the club?


- Would you like to help me please?
- Would you be kind enough to repair my computer?
- Would you mind closing the window?
- Would you mind helping me with my homework?
- Do you mind if I close the window?
- Do you mind if we stop by the supermarket first?

You can rather choose between using “would you mind” and “do you mind” because
“would” is just a polite way to request something but both have the same meaning.

Requests in the form of negative questions:

Negative questions may sound impolite in some situations, so you should be very
careful with such questions in general. Negative questions usually have some emotion
in them, for example, surprise, expecting “yes” for an answer.
- Isn’t she a beauty?
- Can’t you read?
- Haven’t you finished your task yet?

As described above, requests are usually asked in the form of affirmative questions in
conversation, you should keep the following in mind.

If a negative question is actually not a request but an offer or a suggestion, the


negative question will sound more interested than the affirmative question. Compare:

- Won’t you eat your dessert? – Will you eat your dessert?

Standard responses in such are “thank you” or “no, thank you”.

- Won’t you sit down? – Thank you.


- Won’t you have more cake? – Yes, thank you. / Yes, please. / No, thank you.
- Why don’t you come over for dinner? – Thank you. I’d love to.

If a negative question is a real request (asking for a favor or asking for permission),
the request will sound definitely impolite.

- Can’t you get me a cup of coffee? – Of course I can. I just thought that you
were in hurry.

Basic conversations using requests:

John: Hi, do you need any help?


Luis: Thanks for asking, can you help me with this homework?
John: Sure, no problem but I don’t know much about math.
Luis: Would you mind asking Dereck if he could help us?
John: Yeah, sure, can you send me his phone number?
Luis: Alright, check your whatsapp.

- Would you mind working all night long on the project?


- Of course, so we can finish it quickly and before the date.
- Thank you very much indeed. Could you also give a call to Thomas, he promised
me he’d help us as well.
- Sure. Let’s wait for him in the cafeteria.

- Would you like to work an extra hour on Saturday evening?


- Oh, I am sorry. I already have plans so I can’t.
- That’s alright. Can you ask your colleague for me please? Ask if she’s available
and let me know as soon as possible.
- Sure.
- Thank you very much.

Exercise 1.

 1. _ I borrow a pen, please?


Correct!

will
would
Could

 2. 'I've forgotten my wallet.' - Don't worry. I _ lend you some money if you
like.
Correct!

will
could
would

 3. _ you like to come to the cinema tonight?


Correct!

can
could
would

 4. Do you mind _ the window please?


Correct!

closed
closing
to close

 5. Would you mind _ me with these boxes?


Correct!

helping
if helping
help
 6. _ I left early tomorrow morning? I have a doctor's appointment.
Correct!

do you mind if
Would you mind if
could

Exercise 2

Morning Afternoon Evening

Monday Exam Going out with Dinner with friends


friends

Tuesday Study lecture Part time job Nothing planned

Wednesday Shopping groceries Math Class English Class

Thursday Team project Gym Friends’ night out

Friday Psychology project Gym Movies night

Saturday Cafe meeting Piano class Party

Sunday Part-time coffee Study for Sleep early


shop tomorrow’s class

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