Making requests in English

Making requests in English

When you ask someone to do something for you, or ask if you can do something, it's important to sound polite. Here are some of the common ways that you can do this.
Asking someone to do something for you
"Could you open the door for me, please?"
"Would you mind opening the door for me, please?"
"Can you open the door for me, please?"

Note: could and can are followed by the verb without to.

Would you mind is followed by the verb and -ing.
Other expressions for making a request are :
I was wondering if you could…/ Do you think you could….
Asking if you can do something

"Can I use your computer, please?"
"Could I borrow some money from you, please?"
"Do you mind if I turn up the heating?"
"Would you mind if I turned up the heating?"

Note: Could is more polite that can.

Do you mind if… is followed by the verb in the present tense, but
Would you mind if… is followed by the verb in the past tense.
When you're using these two sentences, you don't use please. It's already polite!


At The Office


Mr. David: Good morning, Ms. Nita.
Ms. Nita: Good morning, Sir.
Mr. David: Ms. Nita, we are planning to hold our next Board meeting sometime during
the last week if this month. Can you prepare the project report on our
proposed proposal?

Ms. Nita: Certainly, Sir. I’ll be really glad to do that.
Mr. David: Thank you. Please get on with the work. You may consult me whenever you
want to.

Ms. Nita: Thank you, Sir. If you don’t mind, may I know the date of the meeting?
Mr. David: Most probably it will be the 25th.
Ms. Nita: OK, Sir.

Making and responding to a request

It's important to be polite when you ask for something.

You can make a request by using:

• can you ...? 
• could you ...? 
• will you ...?
• would you mind ...? 

Here are some examples of how to make a request..

Making Request:

• Can you show me your photo album, please?
• Will you lend me your book, please?
• Could you possibly show me the way to the post office, please?
• Would you help me with this exercise, please?
• Could you mind lending me your pen, please?

Responding to request:

• Sure here you are.
• Okey. 
• No, I'm sorry I need it 
• I'm afraid I can't. 

C. Short Functional Text

Complaint Letter

A complaint letter is a letter which contains

dissatisfactions of something in an institution or

public facility or even somebody’s opinion.

A complaint letter consists of

1. Introductory paragraph

It consists of greeting the addressee, telling the addressee who you are and explaining your reason for writing.

Example

Dear Mr. Harry

I’m a guest at your hotel. I am writing to complain about the poor service at your hotel. if you don’t know the name of the addressee, just use “Dear Sir/Madam,”“Dear Sir”, “Dear Madam.”

2. ExplanatIon problems

You can start with the expressions of

complaining.

• I must complain about
• I am not satisfied with
• I feel something should be done about

Then explain your problems clearly.

3. Say what you think the addressee should do

You have to mention what the addressee will do 4, Closing parajraph

You may use the following examples

I expect to hear from you very soon or please give this matter your immediate attention. Then write the ending, for example: yours faithfully.

Study the following example:

Dear Mrs. Febriana

I am writing to complain about the service in your hotel. My friend and I chose starting on March 11th to 15th

Your receptionist salt that your hotel was five star qualities.

Your hotel was not what I would consider five-star. The room was dirty, especially the bathroom. The tap was difficult to work. The breakfast portions were very small and we had to spend a futher Rp300,000.OO for extra meals. I enclose our restaurant receipts because we didn’t have our dinner and extra meals at our rooms. We had called but no one come with the dinner

I feet something should be done about your service. Please give this matter 

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