Soopro Pathshala

1. What Is a Polite Request?

A polite request is a respectful way to ask someone to do something or allow you to do something. In English, we often use please, could, would, can, may and would you mind.

Direct / Less Polite	Polite Request	Hindi Meaning
Give me a pen.	Could you please lend me a pen?	क्या आप मुझे एक पेन दे सकते हैं?
Open the door.	Would you mind opening the door?	क्या आपको दरवाज़ा खोलने में परेशानी होगी?
Move aside.	Could you please move aside?	क्या आप कृपया थोड़ा हट सकते हैं?
Tell me the time.	Could you tell me the time, please?	क्या आप मुझे समय बता सकते हैं?

2. Common Structures for Polite Requests

A. Could you please + base verb?

Use this structure for a polite request.

Could you please help me? — क्या आप कृपया मेरी मदद कर सकते हैं?
Could you please explain this question? — क्या आप कृपया यह सवाल समझा सकते हैं?
Could you please speak slowly? — क्या आप कृपया धीरे बोल सकते हैं?

B. Would you please + base verb?

Would you please wait here? — क्या आप कृपया यहाँ इंतज़ार करेंगे?
Would you please send me the details? — क्या आप कृपया मुझे जानकारी भेजेंगे?

C. Would you mind + verb-ing?

After would you mind, use the verb ending in -ing.

Would you mind closing the window? — क्या आपको खिड़की बंद करने में परेशानी होगी?
Would you mind waiting for five minutes? — क्या आपको पाँच मिनट इंतज़ार करने में परेशानी होगी?
Would you mind repeating that? — क्या आपको वह बात दोहराने में परेशानी होगी?

Remember: “Would you mind to close the door?” is incorrect. Say, “Would you mind closing the door?”

3. Asking for Permission

May I + base verb? May I come in? — क्या मैं अंदर आ सकता हूँ?
Could I + base verb? Could I use your phone? — क्या मैं आपका फोन इस्तेमाल कर सकता हूँ?
Can I + base verb? Can I sit here? — क्या मैं यहाँ बैठ सकता हूँ?
Would it be okay if I + past form? Would it be okay if I opened the window? — क्या यह ठीक होगा अगर मैं खिड़की खोल दूँ?

Tip: “May I” and “Could I” often sound more formal or especially polite than “Can I.”

4. Requesting Help, Information, or a Service

Situation	Polite Request	Hindi Meaning
In class	Could you explain this topic once more?	क्या आप यह विषय एक बार फिर समझा सकते हैं?
At a shop	Could you show me another size, please?	क्या आप मुझे दूसरा साइज़ दिखा सकते हैं?
Asking directions	Could you tell me how to get to the station?	क्या आप मुझे स्टेशन जाने का रास्ता बता सकते हैं?
At work	Would you mind checking this report?	क्या आप इस रिपोर्ट को जाँचने की कृपा करेंगे?
On the phone	Could I speak to Mr Sharma, please?	क्या मेरी बात श्री शर्मा से हो सकती है?
In a library	Could you please keep your voice down?	क्या आप कृपया धीमी आवाज़ में बात कर सकते हैं?
Borrowing something	Could I borrow your notebook for a moment?	क्या मैं कुछ देर के लिए आपकी नोटबुक ले सकता हूँ?
Asking for time	Would you have a moment to help me?	क्या आपके पास मेरी मदद करने के लिए थोड़ा समय होगा?

5. How to Respond to Polite Requests

Accepting a request

Of course. — बिल्कुल।
Certainly. — ज़रूर।
Sure, I'd be happy to. — ज़रूर, मुझे खुशी होगी।
No problem at all. — कोई बात नहीं।
Yes, go ahead. — हाँ, करिए।

Politely refusing a request

I'm sorry, but I'm busy right now. — माफ़ कीजिए, मैं अभी व्यस्त हूँ।
I'd love to, but I can't at the moment. — मुझे अच्छा लगता, लेकिन मैं अभी नहीं कर सकता।
I'm afraid I can't help you with that. — खेद है, मैं इसमें आपकी मदद नहीं कर सकता।
Could you ask me a little later? — क्या आप मुझसे थोड़ी देर बाद पूछ सकते हैं?

A polite refusal usually includes a short apology or explanation and, when possible, an alternative.

6. Common Mistakes

Incorrect	Correct	Rule
Could you to help me?	Could you help me?	Use the base verb after “could you.”
Would you mind to wait?	Would you mind waiting?	Use verb-ing after “would you mind.”
May I to come in?	May I come in?	Do not use “to” after “may.”
Please can you to repeat it?	Could you please repeat it?	Use a modal + base verb.

7. Quick Quiz

1. Choose the correct polite request:

Could you to open the window? Could you please open the window? Could please you opening the window?

2. Complete the sentence:
Would you mind ______ a little more slowly?

speak to speak speaking

3. Which is a polite way to ask permission?

Give me your phone. Could I use your phone, please? I use your phone now.

🗣️ English Spoken & Grammar

Polite Requests in English