MEETING 2

MODAL AUX: ASKING POLITE REQUEST

A. LEARNING OBJECTIVE
In this meeting, the students will learn about ASKING POLITE REQUEST. By the end of
the course, the students are expected to be able to:
1.1.Understand polite request with I as the subject.
1.2.Understand polite request with YOU as the subject
1.3.Understand polite request with WOULD YOU MIND

B. MATERIAL DESCRIPTION
1.1.Polite Request with I as the subject
a. MAY I and COULD I
May I and Could I are used to request permission. They are equally polite. You
have to remember that COULD in a polite request has a present or future meaning,
not a past meaning.
Examples:
 May I (please) borrow your pen? (Using ‘please” is optional)
 Could I borrow your pen (please)?
 Might I borrow your pen?
Might I is also possible but might I is quite formal and polite. It is used much less
frequently than may I or could I.

b. CAN I
Can I is used informally to request permission, especially if the speaker is talking
to someone s/he knows fairly well. Can I is usually considered as little less polite
than may I or could I.
Example:
Can I borrow your pen?
 TYPICAL RESPONSES
The following are typical responses to a polite request:
 Certainly. Yes, certainly.
 Of course. Yes, of course.
 Sure. (informal)

Examples:
A: May I borrow your pen?
B: Yes, certainly.

A: Could I borrow your pen?

B: Of course.

A: Can I borrow your pen?

B: Sure.

Often the response to a polite request is an action, such as a nod or shake of the
head, or a simple “uh-huh.”

1.2.Polite Request with YOU as the Subject.

a. WOULD YOU and WILL YOU
The meaning of would you and will you in a polite request is the same. Would you
is more common and often considered more polite. The degree of politeness,
however, is determined by the speaker’s tone of voice.
Examples:
Would you pass the salt (please)?
Will you (please) pass the salt?

b. COULD YOU
Basically, could you and would you have the same meaning and they are also
equally polite. The difference is slight:
 Would you = Do you want to do this please?
Could you = Do you want to do this please, and is it possible for you to do this?
Example:
Could you pass the salt (please)?

c. CAN YOU
Can you is often used informally. It usually sounds less polite than could you or
would you.
Example:
Can you (please) pass the salt?

TYPICAL RESPONSES
The following are typical responses to a polite request with YOU as the subject:
 Yes, I’d (I would) be happy to/ I’d be glad to.
 Certainly.
 Sure. (informal)

Examples:
A: Could you pass the salt please?
B: Certainly.

A: Can you please pass the salt?

B: Sure.

A person usually responds in the affirmative to a polite request. If a negative

response is necessary, a person might begin by saying “I’d like to, but ....”
Example:
A: Would you pass the salt please?
B: I’d like to pass the salt, but I can’t reach it.
1.3.Polite request with WOULD YOU MIND
a. Would you mind
Would you mind is followed by –ing (a gerund). It is used to ask someone to do
something.
Examples:
 Would you mind closing the window?
 Excuse me. Would you mind repeating that?

TYPICAL RESPONSES
 No. I’d be happy to.
 Not at all. I’d be glad to.
 Sure./Okay. (informal)

b. Would you mind if I

Would you mind if I is followed by the simple past. It is used to ask permission.
The simple past does not refer to past time after would you mind if I; it refers to
present or future time.
Examples:
 Would you mind if I closed the window?
 Would you mind if I used the phone?
Sometimes, in formal spoken English, the simple present is used.
Example:
 Would you mind if I close the door?

TYPICAL RESPONSES
 No, not at all/ Of course not
 No, that would be fine
C. EXERCISE
1.1.Exercise 1: Polite Request with I as the Subject
Instructions: Make dialogues with the following words. Speaker A must make a polite
request with I as the subject. Speaker B gives a typical response.
Example:
Have
A: May I have your phone number please?
B: Yes, certainly.

1. Leave
A: ....................................................................................
B: ....................................................................................
2. Invite
A: ....................................................................................
B: ....................................................................................
3. Stop by
A: ....................................................................................
B: ....................................................................................
4. Talk
A: ....................................................................................
B: ....................................................................................
5. Take
A: ....................................................................................
B: ....................................................................................

1.2.Exercise 2: Polite Request with YOU as the subject

Instructions: Make dialogues with the following words. Speaker A must make a polite
request with YOU as the subject. Speaker B gives a typical response.
Example:
Turn on
A: It is quite hot. Could you turn on the air conditioner please?
 B: Yes, I’d be happy to turn on the air conditioner.

1. Pick up
A: ....................................................................................
B: ....................................................................................
2. Upload
A: ....................................................................................
B: ....................................................................................
3. Send
A: ....................................................................................
B: ....................................................................................
4. Inform
A: ....................................................................................
B: ....................................................................................
5. Visit
A: ....................................................................................
B: ....................................................................................

1.3.Exercise 3: Polite Request with Would you mind

Instructions: Using the verb in the parentheses, fill in the blank either with if I + the
past tense or with -ing. In some of sentences, either response is possible but the
meaning is different.

1. I am getting tired. I’d like to go home and go to bed. Would you mind (leave)
..........................if I left.......................... early?
2. I am sorry. I didn’t understand what you said. Would you mind (repeat)
............................repeating........................ that?
3. A: Are you going to the post office?
B: Yes.
A: Would you mind (mail) .................................................... this letter for me?
B: Not at all.
4. A: Are you coming with us?
B: I know I promised to go with you, but I am not feeling very good. Would you
mind (stay) .................................................... home?
A: Of course not.
5. A: It’s getting hot in here. Would you mind (open) ....................................................
the window?
B: No.
6. A: Would you mind (smoke) ....................................................?
B: I’d really rather you didn’t.
7. A: This is probably none of my business, but would you mind (ask) .........................
you a personal question?
B: It depends.
8. A: Excuse me. Would you mind (speak) .................................................... little
more slowly? I didn’t catch what you said.
B: Oh, of course. I am sorry.
9. A: I don’t like this TV program. Would you mind (change) .....................................
the channel?
B: Unh-unh.
10. A: You have an atlas, don’t you? Would you mind (borrow) ....................................
it for a minute? I need to settle an argument. My friend says Timbuktu is in Asia,
and I say it is in Australia.
B: You are both wrong. It is in Africa. Here is the atlas. Look it up for yourself.