Class 18-3: Using You as the Subject for Formal Requests

Rules:

Would you or will you is a formal way to ask a question. You use it to ask a person if he/she can perform a certain action. It is considered to be more polite than can you when asking a question.

Examples:

1. Would you go to the store and buy a pound of sugar?

Could you is a formal way to ask a person if it is possible for he/she to perform a specific action. It is used if you do not know if the person you are asking would want to perform the action you are requesting.

Person 1: Question: Could you work tomorrow?

Can you is similar to would you, will you, or could you except for it’s used informally.

Can you is not recommended because it is not as polite as the other examples but you will hear can you frequently in everyday speech by Americans.

1. Can you go to the store?

2. Can you mail this letter?