Polite Requests

For ESL students

1. Being Polite
Why are we polite?
EFL SMARTblog http://efllecturer.blogspot.com/

2. How are we polite to each other?

3. What does this postcard tell you about being
polite in English?

4. How do we ask for the time?

5. - What time is it?
- Could you tell me the time please?
How do we ask for the time?
Too direct = rude

6. - What time is it?
- Could you tell me the time please?
- Would you mind telling me the time please?
How do we ask for the time?
Too direct = rude

7. - What time is it?
- Could you tell me the time please?
- Would you mind telling me the time please?
- Excuse me, I wonder if you could tell me the time.
How do we ask for the time?
Too direct = rude

8. - What time is it?
- Could you tell me the time please?
- Would you mind telling me the time please?
- Excuse me, I wonder if you could tell me the time.
"Excuse me. Sir (or Madam)... I'm terribly sorry to bother you but I wonder if you would mind
telling me the time, as long as it's no trouble of course."
How do we ask for the time?
Too direct = rude

9. Polite Requests
a)Can / Could / Would you open the window please?
b)Could you possibly … please?
c)Do / Would you mind ___ing … please?
d)I wonder if you’d mind ___ing … please.

10. Polite Requests
a)Can / Could / Would you open the window please?
b)Could you possibly open the window (please)?
c)Do / Would you mind opening the window please?
d)I wonder if you’d mind opening the window (please).

11. Look at the following photos
and make requests
a) Can / Could / Would
you …?
b) Could you possibly …?
c) Do / Would you mind
___ing …?
d) I wonder if you’d mind
___ing …
…please!

12. a) Can / Could / Would
you …?
b) Could you possibly …?
c) Do / Would you mind)
___ing …?
d) I wonder if you’d mind
___ing …
…please!

13. a) Can / Could / Would
you …?
b) Could you possibly …?
c) Do / Would you mind
___ing …?
d) I wonder if you’d mind
___ing …
…please!

14. a) Can / Could / Would
you …?
b) Could you possibly …?
c) Do / Would you mind
___ing …?
d) I wonder if you’d mind
___ing …
…please!

15. a) Can / Could / Would
you …?
b) Could you possibly …?
c) Do / Would you mind
___ing …?
d) I wonder if you’d mind
___ing …
…please!

16. a) Can / Could / Would
you …?
b) Could you possibly …?
c) Do / Would you mind
___ing …?
d) I wonder if you’d mind
___ing …
…please!

17. a) Can / Could / Would
you …?
b) Could you possibly …?
c) Do / Would you mind
___ing …?
d) I wonder if you’d mind
___ing …
…please!

18. a) Can / Could / Would
you …?
b) Could you possibly …?
c) Do / Would you mind
___ing …?
d) I wonder if you’d mind
___ing …
…please!

19. a) Can / Could / Would
you …?
b) Could you possibly …?
c) Do / Would you mind
___ing …?
d) I wonder if you’d mind
___ing …
…please!

20. a) Can / Could / Would
you …?
b) Could you possibly …?
c) Do / Would you mind
___ing …?
d) I wonder if you’d mind)
___ing …
…please!

21. a) Can / Could / Would
you …?
b) Could you possibly …?
c) Do / Would you mind
___ing …?
d) I wonder if you’d mind
___ing …
…please!

22. a) Can / Could / Would
you …?
b) Could you possibly …?
c) Do / Would you mind
___ing …?
d) I wonder if you’d mind
___ing …
…please!

23. a) Can / Could / Would
you …?
b) Could you possibly …?
c) Do / Would you mind
___ing …?
d) I wonder if you’d mind
___ing …
…please!

24. a) Can / Could / Would
you …?
b) Could you possibly …?
c) Do / Would you mind
___ing …?
d) I wonder if you’d mind
___ing …
…please!

25. a) Can / Could / Would
you …?
b) Could you possibly …?
c) Do / Would you mind
___ing …?
d) I wonder if you’d mind
___ing …
…please!

26. a) Can / Could / Would
you …?
b) Could you possibly …?
c) Do / Would you mind
___ing …?
d) I wonder if you’d mind
___ing …
…please!

27. The End
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