5Requests in

the Classroom

Focus on Grammar 3Part III, Unit 13By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ WellsCopyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requests: Can, Could, Will, Would, Would you mind

Requests

WouldWould you please writewrite clearly?

CouldCould you workwork with a partner on Exercise

4?

More Requests

NO!!

I’m sorry, I’m sorry, I can’t.I can’t. I

don’t accept late homework

.

WouldWould you acceptaccept my homework late? My

dog ate it.

And More Requests

Would you mindWould you mind looking overlooking over my assignment? I’m

not sure it’s right.

And, couldcould I leaveleave class ten minutes early today?

And Even More Requests!

CanCan I borrowborrow your eraser for a moment?

WillWill you letlet me copy your

homework?

Sure.Sure.

NO!!!NO!!!

Formal Requests

Use could and would to make formal requests (ask someone to do something). Could and would soften requests and make them more polite.

CouldCould you work on Exercise 4?

base form

Informal Requests

Use can and will for less formal requests.

CanCan I borrowborrow your eraser?

Sure.Sure.base form

Requests with Please

Use please to make a request more polite. Note the word order.

WouldWould you open your books, pleaseplease?

WouldWould you pleaseplease open your books?

Practice 1Change the statements into polite requests using would or could. Add please.

Open your books.Example:

Would/Could you please open your books?

1. Turn to page twelve.

2. Repeat what you said.

3. Take out your notebooks.

4. Pronounce this word.

5. Write down the answers.

6. Tell me what grade I got.

1. Would/Could you please turn to page twelve?

2. Would/Could you please repeat what you said?

3. Would/Could you please take out your notebooks?

4. Would/Could you please pronounce this word ?

5. Would/Could you please write down the answers?

6. Would/Could you please tell me what grade I got?

Affirmative Answers to RequestsAffirmative Answers to Requests

When we say yes to a request, we usually use expressions such as sure, certainly, of course, and no problem.

WouldWould you helphelp me

read this?

Of courseOf course I will help

you.

Negative Answers to Requests

WouldWould you acceptaccept my homework

late?

When we cannot say yes to a request, we usually apologize and give an explanation.

NO!!

I’m sorry, I I’m sorry, I can’tcan’t. I don’t

accept late homework.

What she

thinks

What she says

Practice 2Imagine you are in these situations. Make polite requests with Would you mind. Then think of possible replies.

You are talking to your English teacher.Example:

A: Would you mind explaining a grammar rule to me?

B: Not at all. How can I help you?

1. You are talking to your boss.

2. You want your co-worker to help you.

3. You want your children to clean up their rooms.

4. You want your wife/ husband to help you cook dinner.

Would you mind …?

Would you Would you mindmind openingopening the door for me?

Use would you mind + gerund to make polite requests.

Gerund = base form + -ing

Be Careful!

When we answer this type of request with Not at all, it means that we will do what the person requests.

Would you mind Would you mind lookinglooking over my

assignment?

Not at all!Not at all!

I don’t mind at

all!

OK. I’ll do

it!

References

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and its licensors. All rights reserved.