Could you do me a favor? Making requests

Giles Parker English Academy podcasts

Making requests

Hi and welcome to another great lesson from New English Academy. I'm your guide Giles Parker and today we're going to look at how to make polite requests. This podcast follows on from last week’s podcast ‘Pass the paint pot’ which looked at using imperatives. Both imperatives and requests are ways of getting people to do things for you but requests are more polite. The comprehension text also features lots more phrasal verbs which we also started looking at in the podcast on imperatives. This course is aimed at beginners but I’m sure everyone will find something useful here.

You can check out the full course with an interactive comprehension lesson and comprehension test, vocabulary lessons including pronunciation practice and interactive grammar games, and tests at our website http://www.newenglishacademy.com/. And a quick request from me: If you have anything special YOU want to study or practice, please send me an email. Maybe I can make a podcast and an online interactive lesson for you.

Now - on to some grammar! In language we are always doing things, like asking and answering, or inviting and refusing, showing or explaining, etc. It is useful to think about what language and grammar we need to be able to do things. One important thing we want to be able to do is to get people to do things when you can't do it yourself. Now, you can use imperatives like we discussed last week, but they are very direct and straight and not so polite. Imperatives are great for giving orders or directions and instructions to friends and people you know well, but not really useful if you want to be more polite.

A better way to be polite is to make a request, such as Could you do me a favor? When you make a request to ask someone to do something you use a modal auxiliary such as can, could and would and make it into a question. For example:

• Can you pick up the groceries tonight?
• Could you call me when you get back?
• Would you bring back some fruit?

Did you notice how my voice went up at the end of each question? This is because when you make a request or ask someone to do something there are only two possible answers - yes or no.  And yes/no questions usually finish with raised intonation - that means when you ask them your voice goes up at the end of the question.

If someone makes a request and asks you to do something for them and you think it's OK, you just say Sure! or Of course or Certainly or Alright. But, be careful! Don't answer with the modal auxiliary. I mean, if someone asks Could you get that for me? it is best not to answer by saying Yes, I could. or No, sorry, I couldn't. People will think you are making fun of them if you do that.

What do you say if you want to refuse the request, that is, if you don't want to do it and you want to say No! Well, just saying No! is not so easy, and it is a bit impolite or rude. So, instead, make your refusal politer by apologizing and giving a little excuse or reason or explanation why you can't do it. So for example:

• Could you walk the dogs this evening?
  • Sorry, I can't. I have to stay late at work again.

Did you see the excuse? The guy is working late this evening so he can't walk the dogs.

Another, even politer way to make a request is to ask someone Would you mind doing.... This question is nice and easy and very polite. To ask it, just say Would you mind and then add a gerund, that is, a verb + ing that has become a noun. For example:

• Would you mind taking this out? Thanks.
• Would you mind turning down the volume? It's very loud.
• Would you mind paying for me? I forgot my wallet.

OK, that about explains how to make polite requests to ask someone to do something for you. Now, a quick reminder about phrasal verbs: If you listen to last week’s podcast ‘Pass the paint pot’ you’ll remember that phrasal verbs are two word verbs that have a preposition or particle as well as a verb. Some of them are separable. That means you can put an object between the verb and the preposition as well as put it after the preposition. And you probably remember that if you use an object pronoun, then it only goes between the verb and the preposition. Unfortunately, the only way to learn which verbs can be separated and which cannot is to, well, just learn them. There is a downloadable list of separable and inseparable phrasal verbs as part of this course on the website.

Now we're going to listen to a short comprehension text that uses different ways to make, accept and refuse requests. As you listen, see how many requests you can hear. Then, listen again and try to find out all the phrasal verbs. Which ones seem to be separable and which not? And, don't forget: you can get the full three hours course with the comprehension test, the vocabulary lesson and test and interactive grammar explanation and test and fun online games at http://www.newenglishacademy.com/

Comprehension text

Last week my friend Marian came over and we worked together to paint a room. This week, another friend, Helena, is helping me out too. It is Easter weekend this weekend and in Italy, that means family and friends all get together for a huge meal. I want to ask over a few friends for dinner on Sunday and Helena has offered to give me a hand with setting up the meal.

H: Well, first, have you thought over the guest list? Could you give me an idea of how many people are coming?

G: Sure, about 12, I guess. You know most of them.

H: OK, and we'll have to think up a menu, too.

G: That's the big problem right there. Half of them are vegetarian. I'm ready to give up! I haven't got a clue what to make for them all. You know how picky people here are about food.

H: Don't worry about it. As long as there is plenty of food and wine people will be happy. Now, would you please turn down that awful music and turn up the light? I want to work out a menu for everyone.

G: Sure. Thanks for helping out like this.

So we talked over who was going to come and what kind of food would be best for everyone.

H: One of the fun things about parties is you never know who is going to come in the end. Someone might drop in on the way to another party, and someone might drop out at the last minute, you know? Can you call everyone up and check?

G: Sure. Why not? We all get along pretty well so last minute problems shouldn't be a hassle. But, would you mind calling a couple of them too? You know how difficult it is to speak a foreign language on the phone...

H: No, sorry, I can't. First you need the practice. Second, I left my phone on all day yesterday and forgot to charge it last night. I used up all the battery and now it has run out, so you'll have to call everyone up yourself…

I spent an hour calling friends. Some of them didn't answer first time but they called back later.  Eventually I put together a good list of people who said they could come to dinner.

H: Well, what do you think?

G: I got in contact with everyone and they all said they can make it on Sunday.

H: That's good. Here's a few suggestions for a menu. I don't think I've left anything out....

G: OK, so we've got crostini for starters. Could you pick up the bread and stuff for that on Saturday evening

H: Sorry, I can't. I'm going out with friends then, but I could pick something up on the way over on Sunday.

G: OK, that's a good idea. What about primo?

H: Well, I thought we could have two types. One tagliatelle al ragu and the other a vegetarian gnocchi. But, would you mind making the gnocchi?

G: Me? Not at all, but are you sure? I'm hopeless in the kitchen?

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H: Don't worry, we'll work something out.