📘 Part of the Complete English Course · Intermediate (B1), week 3
In Australian workplaces, polite requests are softer than direct questions. Indirect questions ('Do you know where…?', 'I was wondering if…') sound friendly and professional.
The rules
Polite requests
| Less polite | More polite |
|---|---|
| Give me Friday off. | Would it be possible to have Friday off? |
| Can you check this? | Could you check this for me when you get a chance? |
| I want to swap shifts. | I was wondering if I could swap shifts with Tom. |
Indirect questions: word order
| Direct | Indirect |
|---|---|
| Where is the meeting? | Do you know where the meeting is? |
| When does the training start? | Could you tell me when the training starts? |
| Is it ready? | Do you know if it's ready? |
Remember
- In indirect questions, use normal word order (subject + verb): where the meeting is (not 'where is the meeting').
- Use 'if' or 'whether' for yes/no questions: Do you know if…?
- 'Would you mind + -ing?' is very polite: Would you mind checking this?
- Add softeners: just, a quick question, when you get a chance.
Listen and repeat
- Would it be possible to start a bit later on Monday?
- Could you tell me where the staff room is?
- I was wondering if you could help me with the roster.
- Would you mind sending me the details?
Common mistakes
| Not this | Say this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Do you know where the office is? | Normal word order. | |
| Could you tell me when it starts? | No 'does' in indirect questions. | |
| Would you mind checking? | mind + -ing. |
Check yourself
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Frequently asked questions
When do we use Polite requests in English?
In Australian workplaces, polite requests are softer than direct questions. Indirect questions ('Do you know where…?', 'I was wondering if…') sound friendly and professional. In indirect questions, use normal word order (subject + verb): where the meeting is (not 'where is the meeting').
What are common mistakes with Polite requests?
Say 'Do you know where the office is?', not 'Do you know where is the office?' (Normal word order). Say 'Could you tell me when it starts?', not 'Could you tell me when does it start?' (No 'does' in indirect questions). Say 'Would you mind checking?', not 'Would you mind to check?' (mind + -ing).
What level is this Polite requests lesson?
It's a Intermediate (B1) lesson, week 3 of the free Complete English Course. It takes about 10 minutes and ends with a quiz.