Polite requests with would you mind

Polite requests

The usage of the modal verbs and their functions in the sentence

Grammar materials

The modal auxiliaries in English are can, could, had better, may, might, must, ought (to), shall, should, will, would.

Modal auxiliaries generally express speaker’s attitudes. For example, modals can express that a speaker feels something is necessary, advisable, permissible, possible, or probable; and in addition, they can convey the strength of those attitudes.

There are such basic modals: I can do it, You could do it, He had better do it, She might do it, It must do it, We ought t o do it, You will do it, They would do it.

Also there are such phrasal modals: be able to, be going to, be supposed to, have to, have got to, used to.

May I and could I are used to request permission. They are equally polite.

NOTE: In a polite request, could has a present or future meaning, not a past meaning.

May I please borrow your pen?

Could I borrow your pen, please.

Can I is used informally to request permission, especially if the speaker is talking to someone s/he knows fairly well. Can I is usually considered a little less polite than may I or could I.

Polite requests with “you” as the subject.

The meaning of would you and will you in a polite request is the same. Would you is more common and is often considered more polite. The degree of politeness, however, is often determined by the speaker’s tone of voice.

Would you pass the salt (please?

Will you please, pass the salt?

Basically, could you and would you, have the same meaning. The difference is slight:

Would you — Do you want to do this, please?

Could you – Do you want to do this please, and is it possible for you to do this?

Could you and would you are equally polite.

Could you pass the salt, please?

Can you is often used informally. It usually sounds less polite than could you and would you.

Can you please, pass the salt?

Asking permission:

NOTICE:

Would you mind if I closed the window? (asking permission)is followed by the simple past. The meaning in Would you mind if I closed the window? – May I close the window? Will I cause you any trouble or discomfort if I close the window?

Asking someone to do something:

NOTICE:

in Would you mind closing the window? Followed by – ing. The meaning in: Excuse me. Would you mind repeating that? – I don’t want to cause you any trouble, but would you please close the window? Would that cause you any inconvenience?

Expressing necessity: MUST, HAVE TO, HAVE GOT TO.

Must and have to both express necessity.

All applicants must take an entrance exam.

All applicants have to take an entrance exam.

In everyday statements of necessity, have to is used more commonly used than must. Must is usually stronger than have to and can indicate urgency or stress importance. In

I’m looking for Sue. I have to talk to her about our lunch date tomorrow. I can’t meet her for lunch because I have to go to a business meeting at 1:00. the speaker is simply saying: “I needto do this, and I need to do that”. In

Where’s Sue? I must talk to her right away. I have an urgent message for her— the speaker is strongly saying: “This is very important.”

Have got to also expresses the idea of necessity.

I have got to go now. I have a class in ten minutes.

I have to go now. I have a class in ten minutes.

Lack of necessity and prohibition: HAVE TO and MUST in the negative.

When used in the negative, must and have to have different meanings.

Do not have to – lack of necessity

Tomorrow is a holiday. We don’t have to go to class – it is not necessary for us to go to class tomorrow because it is a holiday.

Must not – prohibition (not to do this!!!)

You must not look in the closet. Your birthday present is hidden there— do not look in the closet. I forbid it. Looking in the closet is prohibited.

Advisability: SHOULD, OUGHT TO, HAD BETTER.

Should and ought to have the same meaning: they express advisability. The meaning ranges in strength from a suggestion (“This is a good idea”) to a statement about responsibility or duty (“This is a very important thing to do”). In

You should study harder/ You ought to study harder – This is a good idea. This is my advice. In Drivers should obey the special limit/ Drivers ought to obey the speed limit – this is an important responsibility.

In meaning, had better is close to should/ ought to or had better is usually stronger. Often, had better implies a warning or threat of possible bad consequences. In

The gas tank is almost empty. We had better stop at the next service station – If we don’t stop at a service station, there will be a bad result. We will run out of gas.

Expectations: BE SUPPOSED TO

Be supposed to expresses the idea that someone (I, we, they, the teacher. Lots of people. My father, etc.) expects something to happen. Be supposed to often expresses expectations about scheduled events, as in

The game is supposed to begin at 10:00

Or correct procedures, as in

The committee is supposed to vote by secret ballot.

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