Everyday English · CEFR A2 · Everyday
Could you…? Would you mind…? — Everyday english
Could is politer than can. Would you mind is politer than both — and it takes -ing, which is the part people get wrong.
The shape
Can / Could you + verb · Would you mind + verb-ing
Ask for something without sounding like an order.
In Hindi
could, can से ज़्यादा शिष्ट है। would you mind सबसे शिष्ट — और इसके बाद -ing आता है।
CoCap explains every structure in both languages, because a rule you understand in Hindi is a rule you can use in English.
The mistake to fix first
The sentence Indian-English speakers actually produce, and the reason it is wrong.
| Commonly said | Correct English |
|---|---|
Would you mind to close the door? | Would you mind closing the door? After "would you mind" the verb takes -ing. |
Could you…? Would you mind…? examples
Easiest first. Every sentence is authored, with the Hindi it comes from.
Please help me.
कृपया मेरी मदद कीजिए।
also correct: Could you help me?
Please sit here.
कृपया यहाँ बैठिए।
Please speak slowly.
कृपया धीरे बोलिए।
also correct: Could you speak slowly?
Please write here.
कृपया यहाँ लिखिए।
Please come in.
कृपया अंदर आइए।
Please say it again.
कृपया फिर से कहिए।
also correct: Could you say that again?
Please close the door.
कृपया दरवाज़ा बंद कीजिए।
Please wait a moment.
कृपया थोड़ा इंतज़ार कीजिए।
Please give me some water.
कृपया मुझे पानी दीजिए।
Please tell me your name.
कृपया अपना नाम बताइए।
Easy to confuse with
Close enough to be mixed up with this one. Knowing the difference is most of knowing either.
- can / couldA1Say what you can do, and ask for things politely
- ImperativesA1Give an instruction that does not sound rude
- Could you tell me where…?B2Ask a stranger something politely
Questions people ask
- What is the could you…? would you mind…? used for?
- Could is politer than can. Would you mind is politer than both — and it takes -ing, which is the part people get wrong. In practice: ask for something without sounding like an order.
- How do you form the could you…? would you mind…??
- Can / Could you + verb · Would you mind + verb-ing.
- What is the most common mistake with the could you…? would you mind…??
- Saying “Would you mind to close the door?” instead of “Would you mind closing the door?”. After "would you mind" the verb takes -ing.
Where could you…? would you mind…? fits
Where this structure sits in the ladder, and what surrounds it.
Could you…? Would you mind…? is a CEFR A2 structure — the everyday band — and it belongs to everyday english. CoCap’s syllabus files every structure this way so you can learn in order instead of jumping between whatever a search happened to return.
Reading it is not the same as saying it.
CoCap turns this page into practice: Hindi sentence in, English sentence out, corrected one thing at a time. Free, no card.
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