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Everyday English · CEFR A2 · Everyday
Could is politer than can. Would you mind is politer than both — and it takes -ing, which is the part people get wrong.
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Please help me.
Can / Could you + verb · Would you mind + verb-ing
Question 1 of 1
Choose an answer, then check why it fits.
This is a check of this example, not an English level assessment.
Example 1 of 4
कृपया मेरी मदद कीजिए।
Please help me.
Could is politer than can. Would you mind is politer than both — and it takes -ing, which is the part people get wrong.
Please sit here.
Could is politer than can. Would you mind is politer than both — and it takes -ing, which is the part people get wrong.
Please speak slowly.
Could is politer than can. Would you mind is politer than both — and it takes -ing, which is the part people get wrong.
Please write here.
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 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. |
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।
Close enough to be mixed up with this one. Knowing the difference is most of knowing either.
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.
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