Polite Requests with Would You Mind

1.4 Polite Requests with Would You Mind

a. Asking permission

• (1) Would you mind if I closed the window?
  
• (2) Would you mind if I used the phone?
  

Would you mind if I is followed by the simple past. The meaning in (1): May I close the window? Is it all right if I close the window? Will it cause you any trouble or discomfort if I close the window?
Typical responses are:
- No. Not at all.
- No, of course not.
- No, that would be fine.
Another typical response might be “unh-unh”, meaning no.

b. Asking someone else to do something

• (1) Would you mind closing the window?
  
• (2) Excuse me? Would you mind repeating that?
  

In (1) would you mind is followed by -ing (a gerund). The meaning in (1) : I don’t want to cause you any trouble, but would you please close the window? Would that cause you any inconvenience? Typical responses are:
- No. I’d be happy to.
- Not at all. I’d be glad to


Exercise 3
Using the verb in parentheses, fill in the blank either with if I + the past tense or with the –ing form of the verb.

1. I’m getting tired. I’d like to go home and go to bed. Would you mind (leave) ..… early?

2. I’m sorry. I didn’t understand what you said. Would you mind (repeat) ….. that?

3.

• Josh : Are you going to the post office?
  
• Jane : Yes.
  
• Josh : Would you mind (mail) …… this letter for me?
  
• Jane : Not at all.

4.

• James : Are you coming with us?
  
• Cindy : I know I promised to go with you, but I’m not feeling very good. Would
  
• you mind (stay) ………… home?
  

5.

• Anna : I still don’t understand how to work this algebra problem. Would you mind (explain) ……… it again?
  
• Andy : Not at all. I’d be happy to.
  

Polite Request

1.2 Polite requests with “I” as the subject

A. May I and Could I

• May I (please) borrow your pencil?
  
• Could I borrow your pencil (please)?
  

May I and could I are used to request permission. They are equally polite (might opt.). In polite request, could has a present or future meaning, not a past meaning.

B. Can I

• Can I borrow your book?
  

Can I is used informally to request permission, especially if the speaker is talking to someone she/he knows fairly well. Can I is usually not considered as polite as may I or could I.
The response to a polite request often consists of an action, a nod or shake of the head, or a simple “uh-huh”. The typical responses usually are:

• Certainly. Yes, certainly.
  
• Of course. Yes, of course.
  
• Sure. (Informal)
  

1.3 Polite Requests with “You” as the subject

a. Would you and will you

• Would you pass the salt (please)?
  
• Will you (please) pass the salt?
  

The meaning of would you and will you in a polite request is the same. Would you is more common and often considered more polite. The degree of politeness, however, is often determined by the speaker’s tone of voice.

b. Could you

• Could you pass the salt?
  

Basically, could you and would you have the same meaning. The difference is slight:
would you = do you want to do this please?
could you = do you want to do this please, and is it possible for you to do this?
could you and would you are equally polite.

c. Can you

• Can you pass the salt?
  

Can you is often used informally. It usually sounds less polite than could you or would you. A person usually responds in the affirmative to a polite request. If a negative response is necessary, a person might begin by saying, “I’d like to, but …” (e.g., I’d like to pass the salt, but I can’t reach it.). The typical responses are:

• Yes, I’d (I would) be happy to.
  
• Yes, I’d be glad to.
  
• Certainly.
  
• Sure. (Informal)
  

Exercise 2
Ask and answer polite questions!

1. Andy and Anna are sitting at the dinner table. Andy wants the butter.
2. You want to ask your teacher a question.
3. You are at your friend’s house. You want to use the phone.
4. You are speaking on the phone to your friend. You want him to pick you up at the air port when you arrive home.
5. You want to leave class early. You are speaking to your instructor.

Modal Auxiliaries and Similar Expressions

1.1 Introduction

The modal auxiliaries in English are: can, could, had better, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, wild, would. Modal auxiliaries generally express a speaker’s attitude, or “moods”. For example, modal can express that a speaker feels something is necessary, advisable, permissible, possible, or probable; and in addition, they can convey the strength of these attitudes. Each modal has more than one meaning or use.

A. Modal Auxiliaries

      I, You, We, They, He, She, It ------->>>

• can do it.
  
• could do it.
  
• may do it.
  
• might do it.
  
• must do it.
  
• shall do it.
  
• should do it.
  
• will do it.
  
• would do it.
  
• had better do it.
  
• ought to do it.
  

Modals do not take a final –s, even when the subject is he, she, or it. For example:
Correct : John can do it.
Incorrect : John cans do it.
Modals are followed immediately by the simple form of a verb. For example:
Correct : Amy can do it.
Incorrect : Amy can to do it. / He can does it. / He can did it.
The only exception is ought, which is followed by an infinitive (to + the simple form of a verb).
For example: Anna ought to go to the meeting.

B. Similar expressions

• be able to do it
  
• be going to do it
  
• be supposed to do it
  
• be to do it
  
• have to do it
  
• have got to do it
  
• used to do it.
  

Those are some common expressions whose meanings are similar to those of some of the modal auxiliaries. For example, be able to is similar to can; be going to is similar to will.
An infinitive (to + the simple form of a verb) is used in these similar expressions.


Exercise 1
Point out and correct the errors!

1. She can to see it.
2. She cans see it.
3. She can sees it.
4. She can saw it.
5. Can you please to pass the rice?