Asking Someone To Do Something

Exercise 1

Asking Someone to Do Something

Could you DO…* (please)?

Would you DO …* (please)?

Do you think you could DO…? <polite>

I wonder if you could possibly DO …? <tentative>

Would you mind DOING ? <rather formal>

Can you DO… (please)? <direct>

Will you DO… (please)? <direct>

Do me a favour and DO …, (will you)? <direct; informal>

(from Harmer, J. and J. Arnold, Advanced Apeaking Skills, London, Longman,1978.

Use the models above to formulate different questions, or the same question in situations that require different kinds of language.