9-4 POLITE REQUESTS WITH WOULD YOU MIND ASKING PERMISSION

(a) Would you mind if closed the window? (b) Would you mind if I used the phone?

Notice in Would you mind if I is followed by the simple The meaning in May I close the window? Is it all right if I dose the window? Will it cause you any trouble or discomfort if I close the window?

TYPICAL RESPONSES No, not at all/of course not. No, that would be fine.

Another typical response might be meaning "no."

ASKING SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING (c) Would you mind closing the window? (d) Excuse me. Would you mind repeating

Notice in Would you mind is followed by -ing (a The meaning in / don't to cause you any trouble, but would you please close the window? Would that cause you any inconvenience?

TYPICAL RESPONSES No. I'd be happy to. Not at all. I'd be glad to. Sure./Okay. (informal)

The informal responses of "Sure" and "Okay" are common, but are not logical: the speaker means "No, I wouldn't mind" but seems to be saying "Yes, I would mind." Native speakers understand that the response "Sure" or "Okay" in this situation means that the speaker agrees to the request. *Sometimes, in informal spoken English, the simple present is used: Would you mind if I close the window?

(NOTE: The simple past does not refer to past time after would you mind; it refers to present or future time. See Chart 20-3, p. 415, for more information.)

EXERCISE 3. Polite requests with WOULD YOU MIND. (Chart 9-4)

Directions: Using the verb in parentheses, fill in the blank either with if I + the past tense or with the -ing form of the verb. In some of the sentences, either response is possible but the meaning is different.

I'm getting tired. I'd like to go home and go to bed. Would you mind (leave) I

2. I'm sorry. I didn't understand what you said. Would you mind (repeat) that?

this letter for me? A: Are you going to the post office?

B: Yes.

A: Would you mind (mail) B: Not at all.

the 4. A: Are you coming with us?

B: I know I promised to go with you, but I'm not feeling very good. Would you mind (stay) home?

A: Of course not.

5. A: It's getting hot in here. Would you mind (open) window?

B: No.

6. A: This is probably none of my business, but would you mind (ask) you a personal question?

B: It depends.

7. A: Would you mind (smoke) B: I'd really rather you didn't. 8. A: Excuse me. Would you mind

(speak) a little more slowly? I didn't catch what you said. B: Oh, of course. I'm sorry.

9. A: I don't like TV program. Would you mind (change) the channel? B:

10. A: You have an atlas, don't you? Would you mind (borrow)

it for a minute? I need to settle an argument. My friend says Timbuktu is in Asia, and I say it's in Australia.

B: You're both wrong. It's in Africa. Here's the atlas. Look it up for yourself.

D EXERCISE 4. Polite requests with WOULD YOU MIND. (Chart 9-4) Directions: Pair up and make dialogues.

Speaker A: Make a polite request using would you mind. Speaker B: Give a typical response.

Example: You have a library book. You want the other person to take it back to the library for you.

SPEAKER A: Are you going to the library? SPEAKER B: Yes.

SPEAKER A: This book is due. Would you mind taking it back to the library for me? SPEAKER B: Not at all. I'd be glad to.

You've finished dinner. You're about to wash the dinner dishes. You want the other person to dry them.

2. You're watching TV together. One of you has the remote control and wants to turn up the volume.

3. One of you says that you're going to a particular store. The other one wants something from that store, too, but doesn't have time to go there.

4. One of you wants to ask the other a personal question.

5. You're in a computer lab at a language school. One of you knows how to run the computers, and the other doesn't. The one who doesn't wants to see a CD-ROM program.

EXERCISE 5. Polite requests. (Charts 9-2 9-4)

Directions: Complete the polite requests with your own words. Try to imagine what the speaker might say in the given situation.

JACK: What's the trouble, Officer? OFFICER: You made an illegal U-turn.

JACK: I did?

OFFICER: Yes. May I see ?

JACK: Certainly. It's in my wallet.

OFFICER: Would if ?

2. WAITER: Good evening. Are you ready to order?

CUSTOMER: No, we're not. Could ? WAITER: Certainly. And if you have any questions, I'd be happy to tell you about

anything on the menu.

3. SALLY: Are you driving to the meeting tonight?

MIKE: I am.

SALLY: Could ? MIKE: Sure. I'll pick you up at 7:00.

4. MR. Something's come up, and I can't meet with you Tuesday. Would you mind

MS. GRAY: Let me check my calendar.

MECHANIC: What seems to be the trouble with your car? CUSTOMER: Something's wrong with the brakes, I think. Could

Sure. Just pull the car into the garage.

6. CLERK: May _ ? CUSTOMER: Yes, please. Could _ p

CLERK: Surely. Do you have a particular color in mind? 7. SHELLEY: Are you enjoying the movie?

MIKE: Yeah, you?

SHELLEY: Yes, but I can't see over the man in front of me. Would you mind_{_} MIKE: Not at all. I see two empty seats across the aisle.

8. CARLO: I have to leave now, but I'd like to continue this conversation later. May ANNE: Of course. My phone number is 555-1716. I'll look forward to hearing

from you.

EXERCISE 6. Polite requests. (Charts 9-2 9-4)

Directions: For each situation, make up a short dialogue between two speakers. The dialogue should contain a polite request and a response to that request.

Example: Names of the speakers: Janet and Sara

Janet doesn't have enough money to go to a movie tonight. She wants to borrow some from Sara, who is her roommate and good friend.

Possible dialogue:

JANET: There's a movie I really want to see tonight, but I'm running a little low on money right now. Could I borrow a few dollars? I'll pay you back Friday.

SARA: Sure. No problem. How much do you need? 1. Names of the speakers: Mike and Elena

Mike is walking down the hall of his office building. He needs to know what time it is. He asks Elena, a co-worker he's seen before but has never met.

2. Names of the speakers: Larry and Matt

Larry is trying to study. His roommate, Matt, is playing a CD very loudly, and this is bothering Larry, who is trying to be polite even though he feels frustrated and a little angry.

3. Names of the speakers: Kate and Jason

Kate is phoning her friend Tom. Jason answers and tells her that Tom is out. Kate wants to leave a message.

4. Names of the speakers: Ms. Jackson and a friendly stranger

Ms. Jackson is in the middle of the city. She's lost. She's trying to the bus station. She stops someone on the street to ask for directions.

5. Names of the speakers: Paul and Jack

Paul just arrived at work and remembered that he left his stove on back in his apartment. His neighbor Jack has a key to the front door, and Paul knows that Jack hasn't left for work yet. Anxiously, he telephones Jack for help.

6. Names of the speakers: your name and your partner's name One of you has a minor problem that requires the other's help.

EXERCISE 7. Polite requests. (Charts 9-2 9-4)

Directions: What are some polite requests you have heard or have said in the following places? Create typical dialogues.

in this classroom 2. at a service station 3. at a restaurant 4. at a clothing store 5. at an airport 6. on the telephone

9-5 EXPRESSING NECESSITY: HAVE HAVE GOT TO (a) All applicants must take an entrance

(b) All applicants have to take an entrance exam.

(c) I'm looking for Sue. I have to talk to her about our lunch date tomorrow. I can't meet her for lunch because I have to go to a business meeting at 1:00.

(d) Sue? I must talk to her right away. I have an urgent message for her.

(e) I have to be home by

He has to go to a meeting tonight. (g) I have got to go now. I have a class in ten (h) I have to go now. I have a class in ten minutes. (i) I have got to go ("I've gotta go/I gotta go") now. (j) PRESENT or FUTURE

I have to got to study tonight. (k) PAST

I had to study last night.

Must and have to both express necessity.

In (a) and It is necessary for every applicant to take an entrance exam. There is no other choice. The exam is required.

In everyday statements of necessity, have to is used more commonly than must. Must is usually stronger than have to and can indicate urgency or stress importance. In speaker is simply saying, "I need to do this, and I need to do that." In

speaker is strongly saying, "This is very important!" Note: have to is usually pronounced "hafta"; has to is usually pronounced "hasta."

Have got to also expresses the idea of necessity: (g) and (h) have the same meaning. Have got to is informal and is used primarily in spoken English. Have to is used in both formal and informal English. Usual pronunciation of got to is "gotta." Sometimes have is dropped in speech: "I gotta do it."

The idea of past necessity is expressed by had to. There is no other past form for must (when it means necessity) or have got to.

EXERCISE 8. MUST, HAVE TO, HAVE GOT TO. (Chart 9-5)

Directions: Answer the questions. Practice pronouncing the usual spoken forms of have to and have got to.

What are some of the things you have to do today or tomorrow? 2. What does have to do today?

3. What have you got to do after class? 4. What has got to do after class?

Can you think of something very important that you must do today or tomorrow? 6. What is something that you had to do yesterday?

7. Ask a classmate a question using have to and what time/where/how

LACK OF NECESSITY AND PROHIBITION: HAVE TO