This lesson will cover requests using casual and formal language. It will help you ask for various things with fluency and confidence.
Using the right level and style of request will encourage the other person to grant it.
- How many different ways can you ask for help?
- What's the most casual, and what's the most formal way?
The goal here is to ask for help.
First of all, you can ask:
- for some help
- to give me a hand (small, relatively short action)
- to lend me a hand (work together over a longer time)
- for a little assistance
Don't teach phrases, but rather let your student tell you what they already know. If they have a great language base for requests, then you can breeze through the Language section.
A. When making requests, it's important to pay attention to the subject and make sure the verb works with it. The first section is all about actions you do. Discuss which phrases are more direct and which are more polite:
- I was wondering if I could...
- Would it be possible to...
- Is there any chance that I could...
- Would it be all right if I...
- Can I...
- Would you mind if I...
Situation: You are in the lunchroom. Your phone just died. The only other person in the room is an English-speaking colleague.
B. This section is about actions the other person will do. Discuss which phrases are more direct and which are more polite::
- Is there any chance you could...
- Would you mind...
- Could you...
- I was wondering if you could...
- I would appreciate your ... as soon as possible.
Situation: You had to make some changes to a few key client documents. You need the new ones printed out. You are at the client office.
Using "we" is a good idea to establish teaming. What are a few requests you can use with "we"?
C. Using "please": There are three places that you can put please in a sentence: 1) at the end; 2) before the verb; and, 3) at the beginning. Take a look at the requests below and discuss the nuances with your teacher.
- Could you help me with this dataset, please?—This is the most typical usage. Ending with please leaves a good impression and is seen as kind and polite.
- Could you please help me with this dataset?—Putting please before the verb is slightly stronger than putting it at the end. This help might be more necessary than the above usage—perhaps the speaker has hit a serious roadblock.
- Please could you help me with this dataset?—This has a strong, sometimes negative, nuance, perhaps frustration or begging. However, if the request is very small, then starting with please is acceptable; for instance, "Please pass the salt."
A. Stress that making any mistakes with the subject and verb, even if you are a high-level speaker, is a fatal error because it changes the meaning completely.
From most direct to most polite:
5. Can I...
4. Would it be all right if I...
6. Would you mind if I...
1. I was wondering if I could...
2. Would it be possible to...
3. Is there any chance that I could...
B. This section is about actions the other person will do. Arrange the phrases from most direct to most polite:
3. Could you...
2. Would you mind...
5. I would appreciate your.... as soon as possible
4. I was wondering if you could...
1. Is there any chance you could...
Ask: which of these phrases could you combine for a super polite request.
You can also add some together:
- I was wondering if there's any chance you could...
This could give the impression that you're insecure or groveling, however, so be careful about being too polite.
Using we:
- Could we reschedule the next meeting?
- Do you mind if we discuss this for a few minutes?
C. Note: Please only works with neutral requests like can you, could you and would you mind. It does not work with the polite requests above.
- Could you help me with this dataset, please?
Please at the end is the best place. It's always safe and polite. - Could you please help me with this dataset?
Please before the verb is a bit stronger. I think you might be in trouble. If you ask me this, I'll do my best to help you. - Please could you help me with this dataset?
Please at the beginning is rarely used. Note that saying "Please pass the salt" or "Please take a look at this" is actually the please + verb framework. Saying "Please could you..." or "Please can you..." sounds like begging and is not advised.
Consider the following situations and make the most appropriate request:
- You need a simple document from the client. Ask them to bring it to this afternoon's meeting.
- Your colleague is stepping out for coffee. Ask them to bring one back for you.
- You are out with friends for drinks. The waiter hands you a glass, and you realize you forgot to ask for ice in it. Ask now.
- a) The meeting is scheduled to finish at 7pm, but you have to leave a little early to make it to the airport for your international flight. What request would you make?
b) You look outside and it's snowing. It's going to take you longer to get to the airport. You need to leave now. What request would you make? - You are checking into a hotel. All your colleagues are on the 9th floor, but you have just been assigned to the 4th floor. You'd like to be near them, but you can see the hotel is very busy. Ask to be moved to a room near your colleagues.
- You have been working all night fixing a problem caused by a junior associate. You don't want him to make such a mistake again. What request would you make?