Making and Responding to Requests

People usually have problems in making and responding to requests. A request is asking someone to do a favor or for something. There are many ways to make requests, and the expression used may depend on the formality of the situation, the relationship between the people involved, and cultural factors. Yet, it’s important to be polite when doing so. Making and responding to requests can be done in different ways. There are exercises that will help you master this lesson.

Making Requests

• Could you, please…….?
• Can you………….?
• Will you……….?
• Do …….(something)…… for me, please.
• Is there any chance you could…?
• Do …….(something)…… for me, will you?
• Do you think you could………?
• Could you possibly…….?
• I wonder if you could possibly………?
• Do you mind (verb+ing)………? (it is like saying: Is there a problem if….?)
• Would you mind (verb+ing)………? (it is like saying: Is there a problem if….?)

Responding to requests

Accepting request

• Yes, sure.
• Sure.
• Yes, of course.
• Certainly yes.
• With pleasure.
• Sure, don’t worry.
• Sure, no problem.

Refusing request

• Oh sorry, I can’t.
• I just can’t, I am sorry.
• I am afraid, but I can’t.
• Certainly not.

Examples of Making and Responding to Requests

• Speaker 1:Could you please help me with this exercise?
• Speaker 2: Yes, of course.

• Speaker 3: Do you mind going with me to the market?
• Speaker 4: No, I don’t mind (accepting request)

• Speaker 5: Would you mind giving your brother a lift downtown?
• Speaker 6:Yes. (refusing request).

• Speaker 7: I wonder if you could possibly repair this engine?
• Speaker 8: Sure, don’t worry

Exercises