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How to make polite requests in

English
28th August 2018 by Andrew 30 Comments

A request is when we ask someone for something. Since we are

asking someone for help, it is important to be polite.
We must avoid being too direct.

Here are examples of being too direct:

“I want help.”
“Pass me the salt.”
“Can you carry my bag?”
These questions are all correct English but they are too direct. These
are not polite requests. They are in fact quite rude. People will be
offended because they will think that you are giving them orders.

In this lesson, you will learn several methods to make a polite request.
The first few examples are to be used in spoken English. The last
example is for written English.

Polite requests in spoken English

Could you .. ?
Form: Could you + base form of verb ….. ?

Examples:
Could you carry my bags?
Could you give me some advice?
Could you carry these boxes?

We can add “possibly” to be even more polite. We put “possibly” in

between “Could you” and the verb.

Example:
Could you possibly hold my drink?

Would you mind .. ?

Form: Would you mind + ing form of verb … ?

Examples:
Would you mind carrying my bags?
Would you mind giving me some advice?
Would you mind helping me?
Would you mind taking my photograph?

I wonder if you could .. ?

Form: I wonder if you could + base form of verb … ?
Examples:
I wonder if you could mind my bag?
I wonder if you could give me some advice?
I wonder if you could help me?

We can add “possibly” to be even more polite:

I wonder if you could possibly take me to the airport?

Negative statements with question tags

A statement is a normal sentence. It is not a question. We can add
question tags to a negative statement to transform the negative into a
question. This is very formal English and it’s an excellent way to ask
someone something politely.

There are several ways of doing this:

Form: You couldn’t + base form of verb … + could you?

Example:
You couldn’t help me, could you?

Form: You wouldn’t + base form of verb … + would you?

Example:
You wouldn’t take me to the airport, would you?

Form: I don’t suppose you could + base form of verb … + could you?

Example:
I don’t suppose you could clean the bathroom, could you?

Polite requests in written English

Here is a good expression for formal emails and letters:
Form:
I would be grateful if you could + base form of verb …

Example:
I would be grateful if you could send me your price list.

We can add “most” to be even more polite:

Example:
I would be most grateful if you could send me the reports.

Notice that these are not questions. They are affirmative statements.
Therefore, do NOT write a question mark at the end. (?)

Comments

1. Danish says

29th August 2018 at 9:14 pm

Hello Andrew sir, I watch your lecture daily, they are helping me
a lot but i am unable to express my ideas when i try to write. I am
from India from a very small rural area due to lack of money iam
unable to join. I have searched many websites they are all paid. I
want to develop my writing skills. Please help. Reply.

Reply

o Anonymous says
 25th June 2021 at 6:09 am

Buy a book, online can only help you so much.

Reply

 G R R K PRASAD says

18th August 2021 at 4:55 am

I will buy at a shop now it self

Reply

 Amanda says

1st January 2023 at 8:03 pm

Hello, I do not mind helping you if you have questions. I’m

not sure how to give you my email or contact info so that the
entire internet doesn’t have it, but maybe the
moderator/admin can help.

Reply

o Farman ullah says

 24th July 2022 at 1:11 pm

this is an excellent lecture

Reply

2. Humaira Farzeen says

9th May 2019 at 8:44 am

Thanks, the example are very clear

Reply

3. Jude says

26th June 2019 at 9:15 pm

How about “would you like to”? As in “would you like to stop by
the Post Office on your way home”?

Reply

o James says

17th August 2020 at 1:25 pm

 That doesn’t work. I guess it must in other languages (I’ve
heard it said before). If someone asked me that, I’d be asking
myself why the ~@%& I’d *want* to go to the post office?

Reply

o Dapo Maciver says

25th September 2020 at 8:48 pm

It’s sounds more like a question. It’s absolutely correct though.

“Could you stop by the post office on your way home.”

Reply

4. Augustin Basile says

28th September 2019 at 11:03 pm

The lesson is very good. The given examples are very

understandable and my learners will get everything.

Many thanks

Reply

5. Musa says
 12th October 2019 at 4:23 pm

Thanks a million times.

The examples was apt coupled with the explanation.

Reply

6. Rabiu Sulaiman Muhammad says

4th November 2019 at 4:11 pm

The previous Request… ‘I wonder if you could help me’… Of

cause, it sounds very nice to hear from someone who is looking
for your help. But, my question is, can I also say it in this way,
like: “I don’t think if you could help me “

Reply

7. Suryansh says

4th December 2019 at 2:48 pm

I’didint understand

Reply

8. Raja Gopal says

 10th December 2019 at 2:51 pm

Polite request of “I am going home early today”

Reply

9. Sharmin Chowdhaury says

22nd January 2020 at 5:25 am

Thankyou so much

Reply

10. Sharmin Chowdhaury says

22nd January 2020 at 5:26 am

Tnx

Reply

o Sharmin Chowdhaury says

22nd January 2020 at 5:27 am

 tnx a lot..the languages were very simple.. and that is need for
all..tnx again

Reply

11. Saidu Ahmad yahaya says

9th February 2020 at 12:59 pm

I’m feeling much better to see these example thanks you so

much

Reply

12. Adu Kwadwo Jonas says

20th April 2020 at 7:00 pm

Thank you very much I think am getting to the rightful director to

help me increase my English proficiency

Email me for communication

adukwadwojonas @gmail.com

Reply

13. Nihar Bansal says

 19th May 2020 at 9:05 am

Needed some of these for an interview. Thanks for the help!

Reply

14. Genius says

29th July 2020 at 10:21 am

There are many ways for you to make requests in English

politely. Most of the polite requests are in the form of questions.

Reply

15. Roland says

5th August 2020 at 12:06 pm

Which one more formal or better “we request your Office to allow
….” or May we request your Office to allow. . . .”

Reply

16. tuan hoang says

5th August 2020 at 4:39 pm

 I wonder if you could give me a lesson on the use of modal
verbs.Thanks so much

Reply

17. nurmahammad v lodha says

14th November 2020 at 5:31 am

Is “kindly” used for making request in imperative sentences?

Reply

18. Jasmine says

23rd November 2020 at 11:52 pm

Is asking at what time can I be expected to get this a rude way to

ask for something?

Reply

19. Valentin says

6th January 2021 at 1:08 am

I looking for workshop or on line groups to practice conversation

 Reply

20. Bien Aime says

25th January 2021 at 11:21 am

Thank you so much…

That helps me a lot

Reply

21. Bashir kabir says

26th May 2021 at 5:00 am

Thanks, it helps me alot

Reply

22. M says

5th July 2021 at 3:19 pm

May i please be excused early today?

Or
Would it be possible to leave (amount of time) early today?
 Or
I hate to have to ask, but ….may i…

Reply

23. Monika filippus says

27th September 2021 at 10:06 pm

Waw! The platform is helpful

Reply

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