Language structures – Request

Request

If you’d like to make a request or ask somebody to do something for you, the following structures can be used:

• Will you ………. ?
• Can you …. …..?
• Would you……….?
• Could you………?
• Would you mind………?

E.g.:

• Will you give me that book? (Ideadod azt a könyvet?)
• Can you give me that book? (Ide tudod adni azt a könyvet?)
• Would you give me that book? (Ideadnád azt a könyvet?)
• Could you give me that book? (Ide tudnád adni azt a könyvet?)
• Would you mind giving me that book? (Nem bánnád, ha megkérnélek, hogy ideadd azt a könyvet?)

Note: the first one is the least polite, the last one is the most polite (as in Hungarian).

Agreeing (saying yes)

• Yes, of course.
• Yes, no problem.
• Certainly.
• To ‘would you mind…?’ question: No, of course not.
• (Nem bánnád? Helyeslő válasz: nem!)

Disagreeing (saying no)

• I’m sorry, I can’t.
• I’m afraid, I can’t.
• I’m sorry, I’m busy.
• I would/could but…