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!