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Polite Requests: Could You vs. Would You Mind: correct answers

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Polite Requests: Could You vs. Would You Mind

When asking for a favor in English, the phrasing you choose completely changes the grammar of the verb that follows. If you use "Could you," you must follow it with the base form of the verb (e.g., "Could you open the window?"). However, if you use the slightly more formal "Would you mind," you must use the gerund, or -ing form (e.g., "Would you mind opening the window?"). For negative requests, simply add "not" before the gerund: "Would you mind not tapping on the glass?"

In this challenge, you will help people navigate tricky social situations using these exact forms. You'll craft polite requests for a stressed student dealing with a roommate's loud bagpipe practice, an airplane passenger trying to squeeze past their sleeping neighbor, and even a confused time traveler asking a Victorian local for an electrical outlet. The scenarios cover affirmative requests, negative requests, and asking for permission (such as "Would you mind if I borrowed...").

You will work through 15 questions in a mix of single-choice, multi-choice, drop-down, and drag-and-drop formats to master these conversational essentials.

Try the quiz to check your knowledge!

MediumB1 | IntermediateB1B2 | Upper IntermediateB2Conditional sentenceGerundInfinitiveModal verbNegationPhrasal verbPhraseQuestionsVerbVerb moodVerb tense

Correct answers

Question 1

Help the confused time traveler ask the Victorian locals for assistance! Choose the correct verb form to complete the polite requests.

Excuse me, good sir, could you point me toward the nearest electrical outlet? My phone is dying.

I seem to be quite lost. Would you mind explaining why everyone is riding in horse-drawn carriages today?

And finally, would you mind if I borrowed your magnificent top hat for a quick selfie?

Excuse me, good sir, could you point me toward the nearest electrical outlet?

The phrase could you is always followed by the base form of the verb (point).

I seem to be quite lost. Would you mind explaining why everyone is riding in horse-drawn carriages today?

The phrase would you mind must be followed by a gerund (explaining).

And finally, would you mind if I borrowed your magnificent top hat for a quick selfie?

When asking for permission with would you mind if I..., we traditionally use the past tense (borrowed) to make the request hypothetical and extra polite.

Question 2

Help the exhausted college student ask their roommate for some peace and quiet. Choose the correct verb form to complete the request.

"Hey, I have a massive history exam tomorrow morning. Would you mind _____ your bagpipe practice until the weekend?"

The correct answer is delaying.

When making a polite request with "Would you mind," we must always follow it with a gerund (the -ing form of the verb).

Question 3

Complete the overly specific customer's coffee order by choosing the right words for each gap.
"Excuse me, could you _________________________ this iced latte with exactly three ice cubes? And would you mind _________________________ a tiny sprinkle of cinnamon on top?"

"Excuse me, could you make this iced latte with exactly three ice cubes? And would you mind adding a tiny sprinkle of cinnamon on top?"

"Could you" is a modal phrase that requires a base verb ("make").

"Would you mind" requires a gerund/V-ing form ("adding") because "mind" is a verb that takes a gerund object.

Question 4

Choose ALL the polite and grammatically correct ways the student can ask their musical neighbor to lower the volume.
Excuse me, I'm taking a crucial online exam right now. ______ your tuba practice for an hour?

The correct answers are Would you mind pausing and Could you pause.

Both phrases are excellent for making polite requests. Would you mind (and Do you mind) must always be followed by the -ing form of the verb (pausing). Could you takes the base form of the verb without "to" (pause).

Question 5

Complete the moviegoer's desperate whisper to the person texting brightly in the row ahead.

"This is the best part of the film! Would you mind _____ your phone flashlight during the plot twist?"

The correct answer is not using.

To make a negative polite request with "Would you mind," simply place "not" directly before the gerund (-ing verb).

Question 6

Select ALL the grammatically correct ways the opportunistic employee can ask to use the chair.
Hey Sarah, since you're going to the Bahamas next week, ______ your fancy ergonomic chair while you're gone?

The correct answers are would you mind if I borrowed and could I please borrow.

When asking for permission as a polite request:

  • Would you mind if I is traditionally followed by the past simple tense (borrowed), acting as a hypothetical conditional.
  • Could I is followed by the base form of the verb (borrow).
  • "Would you mind to let me" is incorrect because "mind" must be followed by a gerund or an "if" clause.

Question 7

Complete the nervous employee's email to their intimidating boss. Choose the correct phrase for each blank.

Dear Mr. Sterling,

I know you are incredibly busy, but would you mind reviewing my presentation before the big meeting?

If it's not too much trouble, could you share the latest marketing data with me so I can update the charts?

Finally, would you mind if I took tomorrow morning off to recover from the stress of this project?

I know you are incredibly busy, but would you mind reviewing my presentation before the big meeting?

The verb reviewing is in the -ing form (gerund), which perfectly follows would you mind. "Could you" requires the base form (review).

If it's not too much trouble, could you share the latest marketing data with me so I can update the charts?

The verb share is in its base form, which requires could you. "Would you mind" would require sharing.

Finally, would you mind if I took tomorrow morning off to recover from the stress of this project?

To ask for permission politely, we use would you mind if I + the past tense verb (took). This creates a hypothetical, extremely polite request.

Question 8

Complete the barista's polite request to a customer who is mumbling their complicated coffee order.

"I want to make sure your half-caf-soy-mocha-latte is absolutely perfect. Could you _____ that last part again?"

The correct answer is repeat.

The polite request phrase "Could you" is followed by the base form of the verb (the bare infinitive without "to").

Question 9

Help the stressed roommate draft a polite text message without starting a war! Choose the correct request phrase to complete each sentence.

Hey! I'm trying to study for my finals, so would you mind turning down that dubstep music just a little bit?

Also, while you're in the kitchen, could you wash the absolute mountain of dishes in the sink? I would really appreciate it!

Hey! I'm trying to study for my finals, so would you mind turning down that dubstep music just a little bit?

We use would you mind followed by a gerund (verb + -ing). Because the verb is turning, "would you mind" is the correct choice.

Also, while you're in the kitchen, could you wash the absolute mountain of dishes in the sink? I would really appreciate it!

We use could you followed by the base form of the verb. Because the verb is wash (not washing), "could you" is the correct choice.

Question 10

Help the stressed student negotiate with their musical roommate by selecting the correct verb forms for each gap.
"Hey, I have a huge chemistry exam tomorrow morning. Would you mind _________________________ down that aggressive accordion music? Also, could you _________________________ headphones next time you practice?"

"Hey, I have a huge chemistry exam tomorrow morning. Would you mind turning down that aggressive accordion music? Also, could you use headphones next time you practice?"

When we make a polite request using "Would you mind...", it must be followed by a gerund (the -ing form of the verb).

When we make a request with "Could you...", it is followed by the base form of the verb (without "to").

Question 11

Help the desperate roommate craft a polite but firm text message. Select ALL the grammatically correct options to fill in the blank.
Hey, ______ out that mysterious science experiment growing in the back of the fridge?

The correct answers are could you throw and would you mind throwing.

When making polite requests, we use could you followed by the base form of the verb (throw).

If we use would you mind, it must be followed by a gerund / verb + -ing (throwing). "Would you mind to throw" is grammatically incorrect.

Question 12

Help the overwhelmed traveler ask a friendly stranger for a favor by selecting the correct option for each blank.
"Hi there! I need to grab my boarding pass from the kiosk. Would you mind _________________________ my giant suitcase for just a second? Actually, could you _________________________ me toward the nearest check-in desk, too?"

"Hi there! I need to grab my boarding pass from the kiosk. Would you mind watching my giant suitcase for just a second? Actually, could you point me toward the nearest check-in desk, too?"

The phrase "Would you mind" must be followed by an -ing verb (gerund).

The modal phrase "Could you" takes a bare infinitive (the base form of the verb without "to").

Question 13

Help the trapped airplane passenger politely wake their neighbor. Choose the correct phrase to complete the sentence.

"Excuse me, I'm so sorry to wake you, but _____ letting me squeeze past to use the restroom?"

The correct answer is would you mind.

Because the verb "letting" is in the gerund (-ing) form, we must use "would you mind." If the sentence used "could you" or "would you please," the verb would need to be in its base form ("let").

Question 14

Complete the frantic coworker's last-minute requests before the big meeting by choosing the correct verb forms.
"The presentation starts in five minutes! Could you _________________________ if the projector is working? And would you mind _________________________ me the updated slides right now?"

"The presentation starts in five minutes! Could you check if the projector is working? And would you mind emailing me the updated slides right now?"

"Could you" is always followed by the base form of the verb ("check").

"Would you mind" is always followed by a gerund ("emailing") when asking someone else to do something.

Question 15

Select ALL the grammatically correct ways the barista can ask the overly enthusiastic customer to stop.
Excuse me, sir! ______ on the espresso machine glass? It startles the baristas.

The correct answers are Would you mind not tapping and Could you please not tap.

To make a negative polite request, place "not" directly before the main verb.

  • Would you mind + not + verb-ing (not tapping)
  • Could you (please) + not + base verb (not tap)
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