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Polite requests

Michell Herrera

Created on July 29, 2021

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Transcript

Polite requests

With "you" as subject

Turn on the lights

Turn off the lights

open the door

CLOSE the door

CLOSE the WINDOW

OPEN the WINDOW

Hand me that book

  • Hand me those papers
  • Hand me that magazine
  • Hand me those books

LEND me YOUR PENCIL

  • Lend me your marker
  • Lend me your notebook
  • Lend me your book

Pass me the salt

Polite requests with “you”

We use: 1. Would you…? 2. Could you…? 3. And Can you...? When we want to ask someone to help us in a polite way.

Polite requests with “you”

1. Would you…? Is used when you want to sound very polite.

Polite requests with “you”

2. Could you…? Is used to ask if it is possible to the person to help you.

Polite requests with “you”

Would you…? & Could you…? are equally polite, but the difference in meaning is: Would you: Do you want to do this please? Could you: Is it possible for you to do this?

Polite requests with “you”

3. Can you…? Is considered informal. It sounds a little less polite than could you and would you.

Polite requests with “you”Grammatical structures

1. Would you…? Would you + verb + complement + please (if necessary) + ? For example: Would you lend me your marker please?

Polite requests with “you”Grammatical structures

2. Could you…? Could you + verb + complement + please (if necessary) + ? For example: Could you turn off the lights please?

Polite requests with “you”Grammatical structures

3. Can you…? Can you +please (if necessary) + verb + complement + ? For example: Can you please pass me the salt?

Typical Responses for polite requests

AFFIRMATIVE ANSWERS

  • Yes, I would be happy to / glad to
  • Sure (Informal)
For example: A: Would you open the window please? B: Yes, I would be glad to A: Can you please lend me your pencil? B: Sure

Typical Responses for polite requests

negATIVE ANSWERS

A person usually responds in the affirmative to a polite request. But if a negative response is necessary you may start by saying:"I would like to, but….." and you give the reason why you can’t do what they are asking you to do. For example: A: Could you hand me that book please? B: I would like to, but I can’t reach it.

THANKS!