12/07/16 Asking for help

e-lesson

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.