I’d Like to Order: Polite Requests in English

🎯 By the end of this 5 minutes, you can:

make polite requests using I’d like, Could I have, Would you mind — and understand when each one is appropriate.

English has a scale of politeness for requests. The more indirect the form, the more polite it sounds:

Form	Politeness	Example
Give me…	❌ Too direct	Give me a coffee.
Can I get…?	😐 Informal	Can I get a coffee?
I’d like…	✅ Polite	I’d like a coffee, please.
Could I have…?	✅✅ Very polite	Could I have a coffee?
Would you mind…?	✅✅✅ Formal	Would you mind bringing the bill?

Key grammar: Would you mind + -ing (not infinitive): Would you mind waiting? ✅

Task 1: Make it polite

Rewrite each request to make it more polite:
1. ‘Give me the menu.’ → I’d like… / Could I…?
2. ‘Bring me the bill.’ → Would you mind…?
3. ‘I want a table for two.’ → I’d like…

💡 Show answer

1. I’d like the menu, please. / Could I have the menu? · 2. Would you mind bringing the bill? · 3. I’d like a table for two, please.

Task 2: Would you mind + -ing

Complete with the correct form:
1. Would you mind ___ (wait) a moment? · 2. Would you mind ___ (turn) the music down?

💡 Show answer

1. waiting · 2. turning

Task 3: Respond politely

A guest asks: ‘Could I have a glass of water?’ Write TWO possible responses — one saying YES, one saying you don’t have it.

💡 Show answer

Yes: ‘Certainly! / Of course, I’ll bring it right away.’ · No: ‘I’m afraid we’ve run out of still water, but I can offer you sparkling. Would that be OK?’

Write a complete dialogue (6 lines) between a customer and a waiter in a restaurant. The customer orders 2 items, asks about one dish, and requests the bill. The waiter responds politely to each.