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Making A Request

Do you think you could? This page lists useful phrases for the language function of making a request for something or some action from other people.

Elementary

...borrow... (from you) ...lend me... Can I...? Can you...? Could I possibly...? Could I...? Could you possibly...? Could you...? I look forward to hearing from you soon. I need (to)... Can you help? I'd be (very) grateful if you could... May I...?

Pre-Intermediate

...would really help (me). ..., if it's not too much trouble. Are you good at? ... Can I request...? Do you have a/an...that you could lend me? Have you got a/an/any...that I could borrow? Have you got time to...? I don't think I can do...on my own. I heard that you are good at.../know about... I need your/some help with... I'd like to request... Thanks in advance for... You can..., can't you? Well,...

Intermediate

...and I'll do the same for you some day. ...said you were the best person to ask for/about... ...if it's not too much trouble.

...lend me a hand (with...) ...suggested I ask for your help with... Can/Could I ask you to...? Could I/you by any chance...? Do you think you could...? I heard that you are an expert on... If you could..., I'd/I'll... If you're not too busy,... If..., that would be a great help. Would it be possible for you to...? Would you mind ...ing (...)? You're good at..., aren't you?

Upper-Intermediate

..., will you? Any assistance you could give me in this matter would be gratefully accepted./Any help at all (with...) would be (very) much appreciated. Are you any good at...? Can I leave it to you/hand all this over to you/leave it in your hands (then)? Help me (to)..., will you? I could use some help, actually. ... I have a request (for you). ... I have a/another favour to ask you. ... I heard that you are good at/know about... I was hoping you could...(for me). I'd like to officially request... If you want to help, you could... Let me..., will you? You don't have a/any..., do you? You know you said you would...? / You remember I helped you with...? / You remember when I asked for your help and you said "Anytime"? / You know the problem/issue/project/deadline I was telling you about? / You know I told you I might need your help sometime? Well, (it just so happens)...

Advanced

A little bird told me you know all about... About that favour you owe me,... Do me/us a favour, will you? ... Here's your chance to repay me for... I could do with some help (actually). ... I don't suppose you know.../you have.../you could..., do/have/could you? I need to call in a/that favour. I was hoping you'd be here. ...

Is...asking too much? Just the man/woman I wanted to see! ... There's something (I think) you can help me with. ... This is a bit cheeky, I know, but... This might be a good time for you to... This needs a woman's touch. / This is a woman's job. / This job needs a man. / You've got little fingers. / You're tall. / You're strong. ... You don't mind ...ing (...) (for me), do you?

Making requests
Making requests When you ask someone to do something for you, it is important to sound polite. In English there are very many ways to make your speech and writing polite. You can, for example, use the auxiliary verbs could and would
Asking people to do something for you

Could you pass the salt around? Could you help me with my homework? Could you open the window, please? Would you mind helping me with my homework? Would you mind opening the window, please? Can you, please, pass the salt around? Can you open the window for me? Could you bring me that file? Could you get me a cup of coffee?

Note that could is more polite than can. Grammar notes Both could and can are followed by infinitives without to. Would you mind is followed by an ing form.
Asking if you can do something

Can I have a look at your papers, please? Could I borrow your car? Could I use your phone? Could I use your computer? Would you mind if I opened the window?

Could I turn the heating on? Would you mind if I turned the heating on? Would you mind if I borrowed your car? Do you mind if I borrow your car?

Grammar notes Do you mind is followed by a verb in the present tense. Would you mind is followed by a verb in the past tense.

Learning how to effectively make requests of others is not easy. If you suffer with social anxiety disorder (SAD), you probably find it difficult to make requests of other people. How many times have you needed or wanted something but felt that you didn't deserve it? Or felt that you would be bothering the other person by asking? In order to effectively make requests of others, you first need to overcome this obstacle. The best way to confront your feelings of discomfort about making requests is to ask yourself a series of questions about the logic of your feelings. This process is known as logical refutation. Ask yourself such things as:

"What rights would I give to someone else that I am not giving myself?" "Why are others any more deserving than me?" "Would an outsider agree with the logic of my thinking?"

By going through the process of examining the logic of your thoughts, you should come to the conclusion that you have just as much right as everyone else to make requests. Although you still may not feel comfortable with this new way of thinking, for the time being, allow yourself to be convinced by the logic of your arguments. Once you are in the right frame of mind to ask for what you need, it is important to make requests using assertive communication. Imagine that your brother has come to stay with you and is leaving the house a mess. As a person suffering from social anxiety, your natural reaction will probably be to ignore the mess or to say something, such as, "I wish I could keep this house clean." This passive communication style will leave you feeling frustrated and resentful. Instead of hoping that your brother will eventually clean up his mess, an assertive approach would be to say something, like, "I really like to keep the house looking tidy. I'd appreciate it if you could pick up your things." When making requests, be honest and direct, and give the other person specific information about what you need done.

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 open the door for me, please? Could you possibly 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.

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