Making and responding to a request

It's important to be polite when you ask for something.

You can make a request by using:

• can you ...?
• could you ...?
• will you ...?
• would you mind ...?

Here are some examples of how to make a request..

Can you Will you Could you possibly	open the door for me, please?
would you mind	opening the door for me ?

Making Request:

• Can you show me your photo album, please?
• Will you lend me your book, please?
• Could you possibly show me the way to the post office, please?
• Would you help me with this exercise, please?
• Would you mind lending me your pen, please?

Responding to request:

• Sure here you are.
• Okey.
• No, I'm sorry I need it
• I'm afraid I can't.

Things to remember about making a request:

1. "Would you mind..." is followed by a gerund (verb+ing)
Example:"Would you mind lending me your book? "

2. The response to the following request:

A: "Would you mind giving me your book? "

is either

• "No, I don't mind."(which is a positive response to the request. It means that I accept to lend you my book)
• or "Yes." (which is a negative response to the request. It means that I don't want to lend you my book.)

3. Could is more polite than can.