7 phrases · A1 · A2 · B1

Asking for something in English

Every phrase below is a fixed shape you can fill in and use immediately, ordered from the simplest to the most advanced. Each one carries what it means in English and in Hindi, three examples that vary the slot, and the situations it actually gets said in.

The phrases

Simplest first. The braces mark the part you change.

  • Can I {VERB}?

    A1

    Ask permission to do something.

    क्या मैं ___ कर सकता/सकती हूँ?

    • Can I ask you something?
    • Can I sit here?
    • Can I call you back in ten minutes?

    Anywhere · say it as: Can I / ask you something · used at work, shops and services, on the phone

  • Can you {VERB}?

    A1

    Ask somebody to do something.

    क्या आप ___ कर सकते हैं?

    • Can you send me the file?
    • Can you help me with this?
    • Can you repeat that, please?

    With friends · say it as: Can you / send me the file · used at work, everyday life

  • Could you please {VERB}?

    A1

    Ask somebody to do something, politely.

    क्या आप कृपया ___ करेंगे?

    • Could you please repeat that?
    • Could you please send it by this evening?
    • Could you please check the details once more?

    Polite — strangers, seniors, customers · say it as: Could you please / repeat that · used at work, shops and services, on the phone

  • Could I {VERB}?

    A2

    Ask permission politely.

    क्या मैं ___ कर सकता/सकती हूँ? (विनम्र)

    • Could I ask you something?
    • Could I take a look at that?
    • Could I get back to you tomorrow?

    Polite — strangers, seniors, customers · say it as: Could I / ask you something · used at work, interviews

  • Would you mind {-ING}?

    A2

    Ask for something that costs the other person some effort.

    क्या आपको ___ करने में परेशानी होगी?

    • Would you mind opening the window?
    • Would you mind sending me the notes?
    • Would you mind waiting a few minutes?

    Polite — strangers, seniors, customers · say it as: Would you mind / opening the window · used at work, travelling

  • Do you mind if I {VERB}?

    A2

    Check that something you want to do is alright with them.

    क्या मैं ___ करूँ तो आपको ऐतराज़ है?

    • Do you mind if I join you?
    • Do you mind if I take this seat?
    • Do you mind if I record this call for my notes?

    Polite — strangers, seniors, customers · say it as: Do you mind / if I join you · used at work, everyday life

  • I was wondering if {CLAUSE}

    B1

    Make a request that the other person can refuse comfortably.

    मैं सोच रहा/रही था/थी कि क्या ___।

    • I was wondering if we could move the meeting.
    • I was wondering if I could submit this tomorrow.
    • I was wondering if you could check my order.

    Polite — strangers, seniors, customers · say it as: I was wondering if / you could help me · used at work, college, on the phone

What goes wrong

The versions that get said instead, and why they land differently.

Commonly saidCorrect English

Can you to help me?

Can you help me?

After "can", the verb never takes "to".

Please do the needful.

Could you please send the invoice?

"Do the needful" is common in Indian offices and unclear everywhere else. Say the actual thing you want.

Would you mind to open the window?

Would you mind opening the window?

After "mind", a verb takes -ing. This is the single most common mistake with this pattern.

Do you mind if I will join?

Do you mind if I join?

After "if I", use the plain present, even about the future.

I was wondering if can you move the meeting.

I was wondering if we could move the meeting.

After "if", the sentence goes back to normal order — no question word order inside it.

Where you will need these

The same phrases, sorted by the room you are standing in.

More phrase groups on the phrases index, or browse by situation on the speaking pages.

Reading it is not the same as saying it.

A phrase you have read is not a phrase you can reach for. CoCap makes you produce it, in a conversation, and corrects what comes out.

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