Would you mind…? Match these ten answers to the requests. Here is a making polite requests worksheet activity to help students practice the language for making, accepting and declining polite . What? You don’t mind…, do you? will you. Make a request' and the phrase on the square was 'Do you mind...? Direct and indirect questions are used to ask for information you do not know, while question tags are generally used to clarify or confirm the information you think you know. Would you carry this for me, please?. Also, I share 3 magic words to help you be polite. Type in the letter, do not type in the whole sentence. Otherwise, use a question word "where, when, why, or how" to connect the two phrases. Enjoy :) Transcript . This is a fun conversation class to help students with language for making, accepting and rejecting polite requests in work or home situations. Requests. Asking to do things – asking for permission. Link: Choose the correct form of the verb. At the end he bowed and thanked me once more. It is usually used with "I," and sometimes "we.". A simple activity to help students out with making polite requests is to give them a scenario and then ask students to come up with a question. . Asking Indirect Questions to Be Especially Polite Using indirect question forms is especially polite. "Would you mind"? To learn more about how to ask polite questions, and use each form correctly, check out the overview below. This is used in case of a positive sentences. Which forms you present depends partly on what kind of … On the one hand simply being able to communicate their thoughts and needs in another language is a great accomplishment. Canadians use “please” often and visitors are expected to ask for help politely, using “please.” Possible positive answers to the questions … Draw the students' attention to the ten polite phrases for making . I’m afraid I have to turn your request down. Polite requests, offers, complaints etc. But consider the question itself as a polite request: Do you mind if I sit next to you? In our first blog post on diplomatic / polite expressions in English – A Practical Guide to Diplomatic English in a Business Environment, we looked at several techniques for softening the message (I’m afraid, so sorry, to be honest, unfortunately, with all respect) or the tone of our language in English. Would you please check the figures? Average: 3.2 (25 votes) Fri, 01/22/2010 - 08:07 — Chris McCarthy. … if it’s not too much trouble. Grammar; Phrases; Match these ten answers to the requests. The newsletter includes useful lessons, competitions and book reviews. requests at the top of the worksheet and review the language with the class. In this lesson, you will learn how to write a polite and effective letter of request. They won't attend this class, _____ they? Excuse me, do you know _____ the next show begins. Notice that indirect questions begin with a phrase ("I wonder," "Do you think," "Would you mind," etc.). And in result, sound more polite. ? Level: beginner. a - Yes, take them. Check out the best requesting game and activity ideas for English learners. I wonder ______ you like chocolate or not. W/H Questions (Past Simple) W/H Questions (Present Simple) Wish: Present Word Order Would Like / Would Like To Yes / No Questions (Past) Yes / No Questions ... (Polite) Requests. A negative question can also be used to ask for confirmation of a negative belief. Using indirect question forms is especially polite. Polite requests: Chu from Malaysia writes: I don't ... Might is more frequently used in indirect questions, as an indirect question softens the request. 2. Do you know how long Mark _____ been working for that company? I’d like…, please. j - Not just yet. Here are some examples: “I know you’re really busy right now with your classes, but I was hoping you could help me do my research paper this weekend. Direct questions can seem abrupt or even impolite at times, especially when asked by a stranger. The word “please” makes the request more polite and less direct. Do you mind if I ask… Wh- question words include; what, where, when, etc. SURVEY . 5. Open questions have more than two possible answers. ThoughtCo uses cookies to provide you with a great user experience. e.g. For example: In informal situations, one could use the word "can" in a direct sentence. .style1 { As you have learned in your years of studying English, we usually use modal verbs like can, could, and would when making requests.. We often use them when introducing embedded questions, too – they are a way of asking permission to continue your request.. There are three types of questions in English: direct, indirect, and question tags. We often use please to make our requests more polite: Could you call a taxi for me, please? Offers and invitations. Let us see this thing in action. http://www.engvid.com/ "Could you please"? 8. Making Polite Requests in English with Examples (Formal) Let us proceed to see more formal ways of asking someone to do something… I Was Wondering If You Could/Would It Be Possible For You To . font-weight: bold; Since we are asking someone for help, it is important to be polite. ', the player might say 'Do you mind calling a taxi for me?' Polite Questions Used to Signal Embedded Questions. Canadians use “please” often and visitors are expected to ask for help politely, using “please.” Possible positive answers to the questions … or information questions such as "Where do you live?" 3. Cambridge University publishes English teaching materials with the phrase "Can you lend me," "Can I have," etc. Next, provide a missing word to fill in the gap to complete the question. Would you / Would you like to / Could you …? 6. Hasn’t the postman come yet? Teaching your students polite request is important as ESL learners will come across as being rude if they are not taught how to phrase questions appropriately. b - Fine by me, just ask your father as well. Some More Phrases You Can Use to Ask Indirections Questions. In this spoken English lesson, you will learn several methods to make polite requests and ask questions. h - I’d love some. Examples of polite phrases: Could you tell me… Would you mind telling me…. 7. Role play: Making Polite Requests. If the voice drops, someone is confirming information that is known. can and will are less polite:. Can question cards - polite requests Level: elementary Age: 12-17 Downloads: 202 : My Classroom English Language Page 2 Polite Requests & Apologizing Level: intermediate Age: 10-17 Downloads: 190 : Making Polite Requests page 2 Level: intermediate Age: 14-17 Downloads: 177 : Making Polite Requests page 1 Level: intermediate e - I’m afraid it won’t be possible today. Introductory phrase + question word (or "if") + positive sentence. Could I/you possibly…? : Would you mind whether I sat next to you? Here are some more examples of phrases that you can add to a direct question so that you can transform it to an indirect question. To form an indirect question, use an introductory phrase followed by question words for information questions, and "if" or "whether" for yes/no questions. Depending on the intonation of the voice, they are used to verify information that we think is correct or to ask for more information. Can I/you…? Carry on a polite and respectful conversation. ... (Polite request) answer choices . 11. We use could you … and would you … as polite ways of telling or asking someone to do something:. There are many different ways of making polite requests in English. These are not polite requests. The word “please” makes the request more polite and less direct. In the United States, "can" is considered to be incorrect for written English in particular because, in the past, it was not a word used when asking for something. direct, indirect, or question tag). Could you take a message, please? If the voice goes up at the end of the sentence, the person is asking for more information. We must avoid being too direct. In the United Kingdom, the word is not frowned upon. The first part uses the subject followed by a helping verb as used in direct questions ("Has she"). Procedure. Is there any chance… Do you have any idea… Modals of Polite Request: Would you, Could you, Will you, Can you Choose the best modal for each sentence. These are clearly two indirect questions with yes/no answers, but 'whether' sounds incorrect in both cases. I could do with some help with… 14. First, identify which type of question is asked (i.e. Excuse me, _____ you help me with my homework? #1: Scenario + Response. "Would" can also be used to make questions more polite: Another way of making direct questions more polite is to add "please" at the end of the question. NOTE: If you are asking a "yes-no" question, use "if" to connect the introductory phrase with the actual question statement. Expressing polite requests is an important building block for your ESL students to achieve natural, everyday speech. Are you available?” “I just found out that my best friend is going to be in town next week. * , chapter=4 , title= Mr. Pratt's Patients, passage=I told him about everything I could think of; and what I couldn't think of he did.He asked about six questions' during my yarn, but every ' question had a point to it. } Direct questions place the helping verb before the subject of the question: (Question word) + Helping Verb + Subject + Verb + Objects ? Signup to our newsletter "English in your Inbox" to receive your monthly fix of English by email. The other students in the group judge whether the request has been phrased correctly and is appropriate. However, people mostly frame their questions in two very different ways, either incredibly polite and reverential or without any kind of introduction or request. Would you ask Rose … This is used when asking someone to do something in a very formal and polite way, especially when you are not sure that they will be able to do what you ask. 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