REQUESTING THINGS
September 20, 2019
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Yes/No Questions
We usually ask people to do things for us by making yes/no questions. (This is because a yes/no question appears to leave people free to refuse.) Some typical structures used in requests:
- Could you possibly help me for a few minutes? (very polite)
- Would you mind helping me for a few minutes?
- Would you like to help me for a few minutes?
- Could you help me for a few minutes? (more informal)
- Do you think you could help me for a few minutes?
- You couldn’t help me for a few minutes, could you? (informal)
Indirect yes/no questions are also used in polite requests.
- I wonder if you could (possibly) help me for a few minutes.
