ESOL Sc/L2.3a Make requests

Sc/L2.3 Make requests and ask questions to obtain detailed information in familiar and unfamiliar contexts
Sc/L2.3a Make requests

• Be able to: (a) ask for something (b) ask someone to do something (c) ask permission using a range of modal verbs and other forms, e.g. conditional clauses and tag questions.Examples: Ask for something in formal and informal situations, e.g.: Lend us a fiver, can you? Has anyone got a pen I can borrow? I wonder if I could borrow your pen for a minute? Ask someone to do something, in formal and informal situations, e.g.: Pass me the book, will you? I'd be grateful if you could do that for me. Ask for permission in formal and informal situations, e.g.: I'm just going to make a quick call, OK? Would you mind if I used the phone for a minute?
• vary register to cover a wide range of formal and informal situations and relationships
• choose appropriate stress and intonation to indicate a variety of attitudes, e.g. friendly banter, sincerity, sarcasm, as well as politeness

• preface a request with a 'softener', e.g. I wonder or I was wondering. Example: I wonder if I could have the day off on Tuesday