Welcome to today’s English lesson! We’re going to learn about requesting. Knowing how to make polite and clear requests is super important in English. It helps you get what you need and communicate nicely with others. This is a functional English skill, meaning it’s practical and you can use it right away in everyday situations. Let’s get started!

What is “Requesting” in English?

Requesting means asking someone to do something for you, or asking for something you need. It’s more polite than just telling someone what to do. When we make requests, we usually use special words and phrases to be kind and respectful. Learning to make requests is a key part of spoken English practice and will help you in many situations.

Think about these situations where you might need to make a request:

• Asking for help: “Can you help me, please?”
• Ordering food in a cafe: “I’d like a coffee, please.”
• Asking for information: “Could you tell me the time?”
• Borrowing something: “Can I borrow your pen?”

Why is Learning to Request Important?

Being able to make requests politely is essential for good communication. It shows respect and makes people more willing to help you. If you are too direct or impolite, people might not want to help you, even if they can! Learning polite requests in English will make your interactions smoother and more positive. It’s a great way to improve your English vocabulary and speaking skills.

How to Make Simple Requests in English (A2 Level)

At the A2 level, we focus on simple and common ways to make requests. Here are some useful phrases you can learn and practice:

1. Using “Can I…?”

“Can I…?” is a common and friendly way to ask for permission or to request something for yourself. It’s generally used in informal situations, like with friends, family, or people you know well.
Examples:

• “Can I have a glass of water, please?” (Requesting something for yourself)
• “Can I borrow your pen?” (Requesting to borrow something)
• “Can I sit here?” (Requesting permission)

Remember to add “please” to make it even more polite!

2. Using “Can you…?”

“Can you…?” is used to ask someone to do something for you. It’s also generally informal but very useful for everyday requests.
Examples:

• “Can you help me with this bag, please?” (Asking for help)
• “Can you close the window, please?” (Asking someone to do an action)
• “Can you tell me the way to the station?” (Asking for information)

Again, adding “please” makes your request much nicer.

3. Using “Could you…?”

“Could you…?” is a more polite and formal way to ask someone to do something compared to “Can you…?”. It’s suitable for most situations, including when talking to people you don’t know well or in more formal settings.
Examples:

• “Could you please open the door?” (More polite way to ask for action)
• “Could you tell me more about it?” (Polite way to ask for information)
• “Could you help me, please?” (More formal way to ask for help)

Using “Could you…?” shows extra politeness and is often appreciated.

4. Using “Please…”

Simply adding “Please” to your sentence makes almost any request more polite. You can use “please” at the beginning or end of your request.
Examples:

• “Open the window, please.”
• “Please help me.”
• “Give me that book, please.”

While “please” alone can make a request polite, combining it with “Can you…?” or “Could you…?” is even better!

5. Using “I would like…” or “I’d like…”

“I would like…” or the shorter form “I’d like…” is a polite way to request something, especially when ordering food or drinks, or asking for services.
Examples:

• “I’d like a cup of tea, please.” (Ordering in a cafe)
• “I would like to book a table for two.” (Making a reservation)
• “I’d like some information about this course.” (Requesting information)

“I’d like…” is a very useful phrase in many everyday situations.

Let’s Practice Making Requests!

Now it’s your turn to practice! Complete the sentences below to make polite requests. Use “Can I”, “Can you”, “Could you”, “Please”, or “I’d like”.

1. You want to borrow your friend’s phone. You say: “_______ borrow your phone, please?”
2. You are cold and want someone to close the window. You say: “_______ close the window, _______?”
3. You are in a cafe and want to order a sandwich. You say: “_______ a sandwich, _______.”
4. You need help carrying a heavy box. You ask someone: “_______ help me with this box, _______?”
5. You want to know the time. You ask a stranger politely: “_______ tell me the time, _______?”

Answers:

1. You want to borrow your friend’s phone. You say: “Can I borrow your phone, please?”
2. You are cold and want someone to close the window. You say: “Could you close the window, please?” (or “Can you close the window, please?”)
3. You are in a cafe and want to order a sandwich. You say: “I’d like a sandwich, please.”
4. You need help carrying a heavy box. You ask someone: “Can you help me with this box, please?” (or “Could you help me with this box, please?”)
5. You want to know the time. You ask a stranger politely: “Could you tell me the time, please?”

Great job! You are now learning how to make simple and polite requests in English. Keep practicing these phrases in your daily conversations. The more you practice, the more natural it will become!

Practice Speaking Requests with Lingofrnd

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Keep learning and keep practicing! You’re doing great on your English learning journey.