Could you…? Would you…?

  • A2 · Elementary
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min
  • requests

Polite requests with Can you…?, Could you…? and Would you…? (Could you give me the tracking number, please?), and how to say yes (Sure. Of course.) or no politely (I'm sorry, but I can't…). From a call about a missing package to the student's own customer service call.

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Can you…?Could you…?Would you…?

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2In this lesson
  3. 3Check the callListening comprehension
  4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  5. 5Find the requestsGrammar exercise
  6. 6Polite requestsGrammar rule
  7. 7Which is right?Grammar exercise
  8. 8Requests and answersGrammar exercise
  9. 9Make it politeGrammar exercise
  10. 10Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  11. 11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  12. 12Customer serviceSpeaking practice
  13. 13About youGrammar exercise
  14. 14Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: a chat with customer serviceGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: what do you say?Grammar exercise
  4. 4Homework: a note for a neighborDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. Do you buy a lot online? What did you order last?
  2. Did a package ever go missing for you? What happened?
  3. Who do you call first for help with a problem?

Grammar rule

Polite requests

Can / Could / Would + you + verb

RequestExampleWhen
Can you + verb…?Can you pass the salt?everyday, friendly
Could you + verb…?Could you move your car, please?a little more polite: strangers, at work, bigger things
Would you + verb…?Would you fill out this form, please?polite and a little formal: stores, offices, on the phone
  • After can, could and would, use the verb with no to, no -s and no -ing: not Could you to move…?, not Can you passes…?
  • please goes at the end or after you: Could you sit down, please? Could you please sit down?
  • Here could and would are not past: they make a request softer, for now or later.
  • Would you like…? is different: it offers something (Would you like some tea?).

Saying yes and no

YesNo
Sure. · Of course. · No problem. · Certainly. (formal) · Sure, one moment.I'm sorry, but I can't. + a reason: I'm sorry, but I can't. I'm driving right now.
Watch out: don't answer Yes, I could. or Yes, I would.: say Sure. or Of course. (For Can you…?, Yes, I can. is fine.) And don't just say No.: say I'm sorry, but… with a reason.

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