Asking People to Do Things in English

Asking People to Do Things in English (Polite, Natural & Real-Life Requests)

Sooner or later, everyone needs to ask for something.

• You need someone to open a window.
• You want a colleague to help you.
• You’re ordering food in a café.
• You’d like a stranger to repeat what they said.

In English, how you ask is just as important as what you ask.

Sometimes you can be direct. Sometimes you need to be polite. Sometimes you need to sound very polite indeed. And choosing the wrong form can make you sound rude, impatient, or strangely formal — even if your grammar is perfect.

In this lesson, you’ll learn the most natural and useful ways to ask people to do things in English, from direct requests to polite everyday requests and ordering in shops and cafés. This is perfect for B1–C1 learners, real-life communication, and Cambridge speaking exams.

Let’s start with the most direct option.

Direct requests: Using the imperative

The imperative is the base form of the verb:

• Open the door.
• Sit down.
• Wait here.

We use it when talking to friends or family, giving instructions, in emergencies or when the situation is already friendly or informal.

Examples:

• Bring me the newspaper.
• Hurry up! We’re going to be late.
• Open the window — it’s too hot in here.

Making it softer with “please”

You can make imperatives much more polite just by adding please:

• Bring us some more coffee, please.
• Please, do this exercise one more time.
• Sit down, please.

Without please, imperatives can easily sound rude or bossy, especially with strangers.

Polite everyday requests (the most useful patterns)

In most situations — especially with colleagues, strangers, customers, or in exams — we prefer polite question forms.

The most common and useful ones:

• Can you…? (polite, normal, everyday)
• Could you…? (more polite, a bit softer)
• Would you…? (polite, slightly more formal)
• Do you mind…? / Would you mind…? (very polite)
• Can you…? / Could you…?

Can you help me with this report?

Could you hold the door for me, please?

Can you do me a favour and pick up my groceries?

Could you speak a little more slowly, please?

Could you…? sounds softer and more polite than Can you…?

Would you…?

Would you explain what you were doing that evening, please?

Would you send me the file when you have time?

This is polite and slightly more formal — very nice for work or exams.

Do you mind…? / Would you mind…?

These are very polite, but the structure is different:

• Do you mind opening the window?
• Would you mind repeating that, please?

And the answers:

“Do you mind if I sit here?”

“No, not at all.” = it’s OK

“Yes, I do.” = I do mind (so: no, please don’t)

(This often confuses learners — but English is polite even when it’s illogical 😄)

Do you want to…?

This often sounds more like an offer than a request:

Do you want to help me in the kitchen?

Do you want to carry this bag?

Friendly and natural — but not very formal.

Asking for things in shops, cafés, and restaurants

When ordering food or drinks, English usually sounds indirect and polite.

The most common patterns:

• I’ll have…
• I’d like…
• We’ll have…
• We’d like…

I’ll have tuna and salad, please.

We’ll have two coffees, please.

I’d like chocolate ice cream with strawberry sauce.

We’d like two beers, please.

Asking someone to give you something

Use:

• Can I have…?
• Could I have…? (more polite)

Can I have a steak with fries, please?

Could I have the bill, please?

Could we have our ball back, please?

Could I have your number?

How to choose the right form (simple guide)

• With friends & family → imperatives or Can you…?
• With colleagues & strangers → Could you…? / Would you…?
• In formal situations & exams → Would you…? / Would you mind…?
• In shops & cafés → I’d like… / Could I have…?

Good English is not only about correct grammar. It’s about sounding natural, polite, and appropriate to the situation.

If you master these request forms, you will sound more confident, more polite and avoid many small but uncomfortable social mistakes.

And in real life — as in exams — politeness is often the secret ingredient.

Learn how to make small talk in English here