Requests and permission	

Ask your boss for the day off tomorrow.
You sister has unexpectedly arrived from Canada. (Tomorrow is going to be very busy).	You’re visiting a client’s office. You need to make her a copy of a document. Ask if you can use her photocopier.	
You’re calling a supplier. You have an urgent order for stationary. They normally deliver within 24 hours. You need it now. 	Ask your brother if you can use his car tomorrow.	
You're the boss. Politely ask one of your staff to move some stationary that has just arrived and is blocking the way.	You're the boss. Ask one of your Monday – Friday staff to work on Sunday morning.	
You're trying to book a ticket to Tokyo. It's a busy period. You want the agent to call you as soon as she can confirm the booking.	You have to stay at work late so you can't pick up your daughter from school. Call your neighbour and ask her.	
Your neighbour has parked her car in front of your house. It's eleven p.m. and you need to go out. Ask her to move it.	You need some documents from the chief accountant in your firm. He looks very busy and in a bad mood. You really need them this afternoon.	
You're at the bus stop. You've lost your wallet and you need $4 for the bus fare home.  Ask a stranger.	You invited your client for dinner on Wednesday. Now you can’t make it. Ask him to change it to Thursday.	
You’re booking a banqueting room on the phone. Ask them to fax you menus and if possible, photographs of dishes as soon as possible.	You're staying at your friend's house.
It’s quite cold in the bedroom. Ask for an extra blanket.	
You lent a book of samples to a customer. They promised to return it last week but you haven’t had it back yet. 	You promised a customer that you could deliver an order by Friday. Unfortunately, there’s been a problem at the factory. Ask them to accept delivery on Tuesday.	
You’re staying in a hotel. You’ve locked yourself out of your room. Ask the receptionist to help you.	You’re staying in a hotel. You’ve torn your shirt and you need a needle, cotton and a pair of scissors to repair it.	

Possible answers*	

* The answers shown here are not the only ones possible

Ask your boss for the day off tomorrow.
You sister has unexpectedly arrived from Canada. (Tomorrow is going to be very busy).

I was wondering if I could take tomorrow off.	You’re visiting a client’s office. You need to make her a copy of a document. Ask if you can use her photocopier.

Do you think I could use your photocopier?	
You’re calling a supplier. You have an urgent order for stationary. They normally deliver within 24 hours. You need it now. 

You couldn't send it today, could you?	Ask your brother if you can use his car tomorrow.

Depends on your relationship with your brother.	
You're the boss. Politely ask one of your staff to move some stationery that has just arrived and is blocking the way.

Would you mind moving that stationery?	You're the boss. Ask one of your Monday – Friday staff to work on Sunday morning.

I was wondering if you could help us out and come in on Sunday?	
You're trying to book a ticket to Tokyo. It's a busy period. You want the agent to call you as soon as she can confirm the booking.

I'd be grateful if you could call me as soon as you can confirm the booking.	You have to stay at work late so you can't pick up your daughter from school. Call your neighbour and ask her.

I don't suppose you could do me a big favour? I can't pick up Gemma from school – I've got to work late. I was wondering if you could possibly pick her up?	
Your neighbour has parked her car in front of your house. It's eleven p.m. and you need to go out. Ask her to move it.

I'm sorry to disturb you but your car is blocking the entrance and I need to get out. Do you think you could move it.	You need some documents from the chief accountant in your firm. He looks very busy and in a bad mood. You really need them this afternoon.

Sorry to disturb you but do you think you could let me have [the documents]?	
You're at the bus stop. You've lost your wallet and you need $4 for the bus fare home.  Ask a stranger.

Excuse me. I don't suppose you could possibly let me have four dollars. I've lost my wallet.	You invited your client for dinner on Wednesday. Now you can’t make it. Ask him to change it to Thursday.

I don't suppose you could possibly make it Thursday instead of Wednesday?	
You’re booking a banqueting room on the phone. Ask them to fax you menus and if possible, photographs of dishes as soon as possible.

Do you think you could fax me the menus as soon as possible? And I would be grateful if you could let me see some photographs of the dishes.	You're staying at your friend's house.
It’s quite cold in the bedroom. Ask for an extra blanket.

You wouldn't have an extra blanket, would you?	
You lent a book of samples to a customer. They promised to return it last week but you haven’t had it back yet. 

It's about the sample book I lent you. Do you think we could possibly have it back? It's just that we only keep one in the office.	You promised a customer that you could deliver an order by Friday. Unfortunately, there’s been a problem at the factory. Ask them to accept delivery on Tuesday.

I'm terribly sorry to put you out, but I'm afraid there's been a problem at the factory. Do you think you could possibly accept delivery on Tuesday instead of Friday?	
You’re staying in a hotel. You’ve locked yourself out of your room. Ask the receptionist to help you.

I'm afraid I've locked myself out of my room. Could someone possibly let me in?	You’re staying in a hotel. You’ve torn your shirt and you need a needle, cotton and a pair of scissors to repair it.

You wouldn't have a pair of scissors, and a needle and cotton, would you?