How to make a Request?

Universidad Metropolitana de Ciencias de la Educacin Facultad de Historia, Geografa y Letras Departamento de Ingls Lxico Elemental Joselin Aravena Renato Quiroz Claudia Reyes Karla Rosental

What are Requests?

A request is an act of asking for something. We use request when we want to someone do something for us or when we want to do something.

IMPORTANT!
YOU MUST BE POLITE!

Different ways to make a Requests

BUT FIRST OF ALL!

A review of Modal verbs

A modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb that is used to indicate modality that is, likelihood, ability, permission, and obligation. Requests are modal verbs.

Structure
Subject + Modal + Main verb [] They can come. Modal + Subject + Main verb [?] Can they come?

Words that we are going to use

CAN (Negation: Cant /cannot) e.g. Can I borrow your dictionary? COULD e.g. Could you help me move this sofa? MAY / MIGHT e.g. May / Might we offer you a suggestion? WOULD e.g. Would you like soup or salad with your meal? WILL / SHALL e.g. Shall I drive the car? Will (Shall) you turn off the TV?

Requests
We can differentiate requests between small or big. Whats a small request? Positive A: Could you pass me the Answer salt? B: Yes, sure. Negative Answer A: Could I possibly have another cup of coffee? B: I dont think you should.

 on the other hand: Big Request Positive Answer A: I was wondering if I could leave work half an today. B: Yeah, no problem.

hour

Negative Answer

A: Would you mind if I left work half an hour today? B: Well, Id rather you didnt actually, because...

Invitations
A: Would you like to go to the park this evening? Positive Negative B: Yeah! Great/ B: Im sorry I cant / /Lovely/ Id love to Im afraid

Suggestions
Asking for Suggestions What shall we do tonight? What shall we go this evening?

Making Suggestions How about (or what about) going to the cinema? We could go to the park and breath fresh air. Why dont we try that new club in the main square?

Responding 100% Yeah, great/fine/OK/Thats a good idea. 80% Yeah, if you like. (= if you want to go, then Im happy to go) 60% Yes, I dont mind. (= I have no preference) 40% I think Id rather (= I would prefer to)

Requests with modals, if clauses, and gerunds

Less Formal Can I borrow your pencil? Could you lend me a jacket? Is it OK if I use your phone? Do you mind if I use your CD burner? Would it be OK if I picked it up on Friday night? Would you mind if I borrowed your digital camera? Would you mind letting me use your laptop? I wonder if I could borrow some money. I was wondering if youd mind lending me your car.

More Formal

Challenge N 1
Favors people dislike being asked

Let me use your car

Drive me to the airport

Lend me some money

Lend me your hairbrush

Take care of my pet while Im away

Help me move into my new apartment

Let me borrow your homework

Let me stay at your place for a while

We use Indirect Requests when we want to someone gives a message to another person.
Can you tell Lisa Im not going to go? Yes, Of course

Lisa

Indirect Requests
1.- Indirect Requests with Than. 2.- Indirect Requests with Infinitives. 3.- Indirect Requests beginning with If or Whether.

Example
Could you tell Jeff (than) Tony is having a party? Can you tell Jeff not to be late?

3.1 Can you ask Sofia if shes free on Friday?

3.2 Could you ask her whether or not she has my number? 4.1 Can you ask Jeff when the party starts? 4.2 Could you ask Sofia what time I should pick her up?

4.- Indirect Requests with a question word.

Challenge N 2
Exercises about Indirect Request

1.- Kim, I have to turn down your invitation to the movies. ________________________________________ __________________________________ 2.- Sofia, are you going to the party with Jeff? _______________________________________ ___________________________________ 3.- Tony, How many friends can I bring to your party?

_______________________________________ ___________________________________

Challenge N 3
Making a Request

Fill in the blanks with the correct words according to the video

Lets Practice
Choose the most appropriate answer for expressing the idea specified in parentheses.

1. ________ I speak to Mr. Smith, please? (Formal polite request) a) Can b) May c) Would d) Would you mind if 2. _________ you open the window, please? It's hot in here. (Polite request) a) Could b) Couldn't c) Won't d) Wouldn't

3. __________ buying two loaves of bread on your way home? (Polite request) a) Could you b) Will you c) Would you d) Would you mind

4. Would you mind if I ______ your dictionary for an hour or so? (Polite request) a) borrowed b) will borrow c) would borrow

5. Would you mind if I ______ (Asking for permission) a) didn't b) won't

come to your party?

c) wouldn't

6. Mrs. Redding, ___________ lend me two hundred dollars till next week, please? (Polite request) a) can't you b) could you c) do you mind d) would you mind

7. Would you mind _______ here? I have a headache. (Polite request) a) not to smoke b) not smoke c) no smoking d) not smoking 8. Betty, _________ help me with this grammar exercise, please? (Informal request) a) can you b) can't you c) won't you d) do you mind

9. Could I use your cell phone, please? Sorry, you _____ . (Permission not given) a) can't b) couldn't c) mustn't d) won't 10. Could I stay here for a while? Yes, you ______ . (Permission given) a) could b) can c) will d) must

Last Challenge
Role Play