Polite requests - Learning English | BBC World Service

I don't know how to request something with Would you mind… ... Would you mind lending me some money? ... Could you please lock the door when you leave? Thispagehasbeenarchivedandisnolongerupdated.Findoutmoreaboutpagearchiving.   Home General&BusinessEnglish Grammar,Vocabulary&Pronunciation Quizzes TheFlatmates Community Forteachers Specials Aboutus Downloads   Youarein: Home >Grammar,Vocabulary&Pronunciation>AskaboutEnglish LearningEnglish Polite requests Chu fromMalaysiawrites: Idon't knowhowtorequestsomethingwithWouldyoumind…? Would youmindlendmesomemoney? Wouldyoumindlendingmesomemoney? Which oneshouldIuse? Roger Woodhamreplies:   There aremanydifferentwaysofmakingpoliterequestsinEnglish. Wouldyou…?/Couldyou…?/Wouldyouliketo…? Ifyouareaskingotherpeopletodothings,youwouldnormally useWouldyouorCouldyou+infinitive.Wouldyoulike to…?isalsoaverypolitewayofsuggestingorrequesting something,politerthanDoyouwantto…?Comparethe following: Wouldyoupleasebringyourlibrarybooksbacktoday astheyareneededbyanotherborrower? CouldyoujoinusonSaturday?Tom'sbackfromSydney andwe'rehavingabarbecue. WouldyouliketojoinusonSaturday?We'rehaving abarbecueinthebackgarden. WouldyoucaretojoinusonSaturday?We'recelebrating Tom'sreturnfromSydney. DoyouwanttojoinusonSaturday?We'rehaving abashinthegarden.   Wouldyoulike…?+infinitive/ Wouldyoumind…? Ifyouwanttosoundparticularlypolite,orifyouthinktheanswer maybenegative,youcanalsouseWouldyoumind+verb-ingas thepreferredalternativetoCouldyou…?Wouldyoumind…? literallymeans:Wouldyouobjectto…? Wouldyoumindlockingthedoorwhenyouleave?~ No,notatall! Couldyoupleaselockthedoorwhenyouleave? ~Yes,certainly! Ifyou'renotbusyatthemoment,wouldyoumindhelping mewithmyhomework? Ifyou'renotbusyatthemoment,couldyougivemea handwithmyhomework?     Can I/couldI/mayI/mightI Ifyouarerequestingsomethingforyourself,alloftheseforms arepossible.Mayandmightareconsideredtobemore polite,moreformalormoretentativethancanandcould,butcan andcouldareusuallypreferredinnormalusage.Compare thefollowing: CanIaskafavourofyou?~Ofcourseyou can. CouldIaskyoutocollectDeborahfromschooltomorrow ~Ofcourseyoucan. CouldIpossiblyhaveanothercupofcoffee?~Idon't thinkyoushould.Youwon'tsleeptonightifyoudo. Ifyou'vefinishedwiththecomputer,mayIturnitoff? ~Yes,pleasedo. MightIleaveworkabitearliertoday?I'vegota doctor'sappointmentat5. Mightismorefrequentlyusedinindirectquestions,as anindirectquestionsoftenstherequest.Notethefurtherpolite alternativesthatwecanuse: IwonderifImightleaveworkabitearlier today?I'vegotadoctor'sappointment. WouldIbeabletoleaveworkabitearlier today?I'vegotadentistappointmentat6. WoulditbeOKifIleftworkabitearlier today?I'vegottotakeourcattothevet.       Would you/DoyoumindifI…? Similarly,ifweuseDo/WouldyoumindifI…?to makearequest,wemaybeanticipatingpossibleobjections: WouldyoumindifIputofftalkingtoHenry untiltomorrow?~Ithinkthat'samistake.Ithinkyoushould speaktohimtoday Notethedifferencebetween:Wouldyoumind…?andWouldyou mindme/my…?: Wouldyoumindfillingtheicetraysandputting theminthefreezer?(=youdoit) Wouldyoumindme/myfillingtheicetraysandputting theminthefreezer?(=I'lldoit)       If youwouldlikemorepracticemorepleasevisitourMessage BoardintheYou,MeandUspartofour website.       more questions   LearningEnglish|NewsEnglish|BusinessEnglish|WatchandListen  GrammarandVocabulary|Communicate|Quizzes|Forteachers  Downloads|FAQ|Contactus