Making Requests: Asking Someone to Do Something for You

In English, there are several ways to politely ask someone to do something for you. These are referred to as making requests. Understanding how to use these forms appropriately can improve your communication skills and help you sound more polite and natural in everyday conversations. Below, we will explore common ways to make requests, explain their structures, and provide practical examples based on daily interactions.

Common Ways to Make Requests

Here are three typical ways to ask someone to do something:

• Could you open the door for me, please?

• Would you mind opening the door for me, please?

• Can you open the door for me, please?

When you want to ask for permission to do something, you can use the following structures:

• Can I use your computer, please?

• Could I borrow some money from you, please?

• Do you mind if I turn up the heating?

• Would you mind if I turned up the heating?

Speaking Tip:

• Could is generally more polite than can.

• Do you mind if... is followed by the verb in the present tense, while Would you mind if... is followed by the verb in the past tense.

• When using Do you mind if... or Would you mind if..., avoid adding "please," as the expressions are already polite enough.

Expressions with "Will"

You can also use "will" to make requests. This form is straightforward and polite:

• Will you carry this for me?

• Will you drive me to the airport?

• Will you take my daughter home?

• Will you buy me a couple of drinks if I give you the money?

• Will you send me that important document?

• Will you send me an email with the files we prepared?

Very Direct Requests

For situations requiring more urgency or assertiveness, you can use expressions with "need" and "want."

• I need some help.

• I need you to go to my office.

• She needs you to run a few errands.

• We need to email the contract to Peter immediately.

• I want you to go to the hospital.

• She wants you to work overtime.

Responding to Requests

When someone makes a request, you can either accept or refuse it. Here are some common ways to respond:

Accepting Requests:

• Sure, I’d be glad to...

• I’d be happy to...

• Sure. Just a moment.

• No problem.

• Of course.

• Certainly.

• All right.

Refusing Requests:

• I’m sorry, I can’t.

• I’m sorry, but...

• I’d love to, but...

• Sorry to say that...

• It sounds great, but...

Example Conversation

Below is a sample conversation to illustrate how requests are made and responded to:

John: Hi, do you need any help?

Luis: Thanks for asking. Can you help me with this homework?

John: Sure, no problem, but I don’t know much about math.

Luis: Would you mind asking Dereck if he could help us?

John: Yeah, sure. Can you send me his phone number?

Luis: Alright, check your WhatsApp.

Practice Exercise: Making Requests

For each situation below, make a request using the word in brackets.

1. It is cold in the restaurant. Ask the waiter to shut the window. (could)

   • Could you shut the window, please?

2. You are buying a coat. Ask the assistant for a receipt. (can)

   • Can I have a receipt, please? / Can you give me a receipt, please?

3. You want to know the time. Ask someone in the street. (could)

   • Could you tell me the time, please?

4. You need someone to help you. Ask a friend. (can)

   • Can you help me, please?

5. You have bought some food but don’t have a bag. Ask the assistant. (could)

   • Could I have a bag, please? / Could you give me a bag, please?

6. You are carrying a tray. Ask someone to clear a space on the table. (mind)

   • Would you mind clearing a space (on the table), please?

7. You are on the phone and want to speak to the manager. (could)

   • Could I speak to the manager, please?