Making and Responding to Requests | Business English B1

How you ask matters as much as what you ask.

Making requests (most formal → least formal)

• “Would it be possible to send the report by Friday?”
• “Could you please forward the details?”
• “I was wondering if you could help with this.”
• “Can you send me the file?” (fine with close colleagues)

Accepting requests

• “Of course, I will get that to you by end of day.”
• “Certainly. No problem.”
• “Happy to help.”

Politely declining or delaying

• “I am afraid I am tied up this week, but I could manage next Wednesday.”
• “I would love to help, but my schedule is full until [date]. Could someone else cover this?”

Practice

Write a polite request to your manager for two extra days to complete a project. Start with: “Would it be possible to…”