284 Requests with could/will/would you etc. For starred forms, see к below.

A could you* is a very useful request form:

Could you please show me the way?

possibly can be added to show that the speaker is asking for something extra:

Could you possibly lend me £500?

couldn't expresses the speaker's hopes for a more favourable answer than has just been indicated:

I can't wait. ~ Couldn't you wait five minutes? you couldn't . . . could you? can be used to express a not very hopeful request:

You couldn't wait five minutes, could you?

You couldn't give me a hand with this, could you? (The speaker doesn't really expect a favourable answer in either case.)

В will/would you* (please):

Will/Would you please count your change? would you (please) has the same meaning as could you.

will you is more authoritative and therefore less polite. will/would you can be placed at the end of the phrase:

Shut the door, will you?

But this form can only be used in very friendly relaxed situations. Used otherwise, it would sound very rude. will/would can also be used for third person requests:

Would Mrs Jones, passenger to Leeds, please come to the Enquiry

Desk?

Will anyone who saw the accident please phone this number . . . ?

(police announcement)

С you'll . . . won't you? is a persuasive type of request used mainly among friends:

You'll write to me, won't you?

D would you mind* + gerund (see 263): Would you mind moving your car?

E perhaps you would implies confidence that the other person will perform this service. It would not be used at the beginning of a conversation or letter, but would be possible later on:

Perhaps you would let me know when your new stock arrives =

Please let me know when your new stock arrives.

F if you would is a useful request form. It is used in spoken English for routine-type requests which the speaker is quite sure will be obeyed: If you'd fill up this form/take a seat/wait a few minutes, (in an office) If you 'd sign the register/follow the porter, (in a hotel) just can be added to show that the action required is very easy:

If you 'd just put your address on the back of the cheque, (in a shop)

G would you like to . . . ? is also a possible request form: Would you like to take a seat? = Please take a seat.

H I should/would be very grateful if you would is a formal request form found chiefly in letters but possible in speech:

/ should be very grateful if you would let me know if you have any vacancies.

I Would you be good/kind enough to keep me informed? Would you be so kind as to keep me informed?

] I wish you would can be a request form. It sometimes implies that the other person should be helping or have offered to do it (see 301): / wish you 'd give me a hand.

К Starred would and could forms may be introduced by phrases such as do you think? I wonder(ed) if, I was wondering if (see 104): Do you think you could lend me £500?

285 Requests with might

A you might can express a very casual request:

You might post these for me. But it can only be used in friendly relaxed situations, otherwise it would

sound rude. В With a certain intonation and a strong stress on the important word

might can express a reproachful request: You might \help me with

stress on help might imply 'Why aren't you helping me?/You should be

helping me'. С might can also be used with other persons to express this sort of

irritation: He might \pay us! with stress on pay could mean 'We are

annoyed that he doesn't pay/hasn't paid us'. D might + perfect infinitive can express irritation at or reproach for the

non-performance of an action in the past: You might have 4old us with

stress on told could mean 'You should have told us'.