Tips and Exercises

Requests with modals and if clauses

Less formal requests are more direct than more formal requests. The past tense is used in an if clause when “would" is used in the main clause. "Would you mind" can be followed by an if clause or by a gerund.

Less formal

Can I borrow your pencil?

Could you please lend me a suit?

Is It OK If I use your phone?

Do you mind If I use your CD player?

Would It be OK if I used your fax machine?

Would you mind If I borrowed your video camera? Would you mind letting me borrow your laptop?

I wonder If I could borrow $100.

More formal

I was wondering If you'd mind lending me your car

Exercise 1.
Look at these requests and practice with a partner.

1. You want to borrow someone's underwater camera for a diving trip to Florida.
A: Would you mind if I borrowed your underwater camera?
B: Sure, that's fine. But please be careful with it.

2. You want to use someone's desk.
A. Is it OK if I use your desk ?
B: Of course. Go right ahead!

3. You need a ride to the airport tomorrow.
A: Would you mind taking me to the airport tomorrow?
B: I'd be glad to. What time?

4. You need help moving on Saturday.
A: I wonder if you could help me move on Saturday?
B: Gee, I'm sorry. I'm busy this whole weekend.

5. You want to borrow someone's mountain bike.
A: Do you mind if I borrow your mountain bike?.
B: I'm sorry. I'd like to, but the tire is flan

Send the exercises to the e-mail: mgruiz@cantv.net