带有星号的各形式请见下面K中的注解。
A could you?* 是一种很有用的表示请求的形式:
Could you please show me the way?
请你给我指一指路,怎么样?
加上possibly则可以表示说话人的需要是有所逾越的:
Could you possibly lend me £500?
你能否借给我500英镑?
couldnt表示说话人期望得到比他们刚刚表示的较为有利一些的回答:
I cant wait.
Couldnt you wait five minutes?
我不可以等了。
你不可以等五分钟吗?
you couldntcould you?可用来表示一种成功期望不大的请求:
You couldnt wait five minutes,could you?
你不可以再等五分钟,是吗?
You couldnt give me a hand with this,could you?
这事你帮不了我,是吗?
(在以上两种状况说话人并不真的预期能得到认可的回答。)
B will/would you *(please)?形式:
Will/Would you please count your change?
请点一点找给你的钱怎么样?
would you(please)与could you的意思是同样的。
will you有命令的意思,因此不够礼貌。
will/would you可坐落于一个短语之后:
Shut the door,will you?
把门关上,怎么样?
但这种形式只可以用于很友好、随意的场合。不然就会看上去非常无礼。
will/would也可用于对第三人称的请求:
Would Mrs Jones,passenger to Leeds,please come to the Enquiry Desk?
去往利兹的旅客琼斯夫人请到问讯处来,怎么样?
Will anyone who saw the accident please phone this number
目睹事故发生者请拨这个电话号码(警方通告)
C youllwont you?是一种劝导性的请求,主要用于亲朋好友之间:
Youll write to me,wont you?
你会给我写信的,是吗?
D would you mind* +动名词(参见第263节):
Would you mind moving your car?
请你移动一下你的车,你不会在意吧?
E perhaps you would表示说话人自信另一方将答应其请求。它一般不需要于谈话或信件的开头,但可以在稍后用:
Perhaps you would let me know when your new stock1 arrives.等于:
Please let me know when your new stock arrives.
新货到达时请公告我。
F if you would是一种很有用的请求形式。这是英语口语中一种例行的纯属礼貌性质的请求,说话人确信他的请求会得到答应:
If youd fill up this form/take a seat/wait a few minutes.
请填写这份表格/坐/等几分钟。(在办公室)
If youd sign the register/follow the porter2.
请在登记本上签名/跟员工走。(在旅馆里)
这种请求中常加上just用来表示所需要做的事是非常简单、容易的:
If youd just put your address on the back of the cheque.
请在支票背面写下你的地址就能了。(在商店)
G would you like to?也是一种表示请求的形式:
Would you like to take a seat?等于:
Please take a seat.
请坐!
H I should/would be very grateful if you would是一种王要用于信函中的正式的请求形式;也可用于口语中:
I should be very grateful if you would let me know if you have any vacan-cies.
如能公告我是不是有空缺我将十分感谢。
I Would you be good/kind enough to keep me informed?
请随时告诉我一些状况,怎么样?
Would you be so kind as to keep me informed?
(译文同上。)
J I wish you would也是一种表示请求的形式,有时含有说话人觉得他们本应该已经帮助他或本应已提出要给予帮助的意思(参见第301节):
I wish youd give me a hand.
我期望你能帮我一下。
K 带有星号的 would和 could形式可由短语如do you think?或
I wonder(ed) if或 I was wondering if等引导(参见第 104节):
Do you think you could lend me £500?
你借我500英镑行吗?