Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1If Leo texts while I'm driving, could you ............... the dog until I get back?
Wrong!
Use "ask me to keep" because ask + person is followed by a to-infinitive when relaying a request.
2Mia said she ............... message her after midnight, so could you pass that on gently?
Wrong!
"would rather he didn't" tactfully mediates Mia's preference; the past-form clause after would rather softens the request.
3Sam's still finishing the call; would you mind ............... outside for two minutes?
Wrong!
After "would you mind", use a gerund: "waiting".
4............... borrowing your charger for the train, or are you using it?
Wrong!
Use "any chance of" before a gerund phrase such as 'borrowing'.
5If you're near the kettle, could you ............... give Jess a quick nudge about the mugs?
Wrong!
"could do me a favour and" fits the informal favour-request frame before the base verb 'give'.
6The neighbour was polite, but he asked ............... we could keep the noise down after ten.
Wrong!
Use "whether" to report a yes/no request or inquiry: he asked whether we could keep the noise down.
7Could you ask Nia to drop the folder off at ............... end, not bring it back here?
Wrong!
When relaying a request to someone elsewhere, "that" naturally points to the listener's end of the conversation.
8She ............... being tagged in the photos, because her manager follows you.
Wrong!
"wouldn't mind not" softens the request by presenting it as the speaker's preference rather than a warning.
9I'm asking ............... Ravi's behalf: could you swap shifts with him on Friday?
Wrong!
The fixed phrase is "on" someone's behalf when you make or pass on a request for them.
10To make it sound less abrupt, tell Omar I was wondering whether he ............... send it tonight.
Wrong!
"could" is the better choice here because the sentence explicitly asks for a less abrupt mediated request.
11Alex sounded embarrassed, but he insisted that ............... the receipt in case the headphones fail.
Wrong!
After "insisted that", use a mandative clause with the base verb: "we keep".
12Could you ............... he can lower the music a bit, without making it sound like an order?
Wrong!
"see if" introduces the request tentatively, which matches 'without making it sound like an order'.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- If Leo texts while I’m driving, could you ask me to keep the dog until I get back?
- Mia said she would rather he didn’t message her after midnight, so could you pass that on gently?
- Sam’s still finishing the call; would you mind waiting outside for two minutes?
- any chance of borrowing your charger for the train, or are you using it?
- If you’re near the kettle, could you could do me a favour and give Jess a quick nudge about the mugs?
- The neighbour was polite, but he asked whether we could keep the noise down after ten.
- Could you ask Nia to drop the folder off at that end, not bring it back here?
- She wouldn’t mind not being tagged in the photos, because her manager follows you.
- I’m asking on Ravi’s behalf: could you swap shifts with him on Friday?
- To make it sound less abrupt, tell Omar I was wondering whether he could send it tonight.
- Alex sounded embarrassed, but he insisted that we keep the receipt in case the headphones fail.
- Could you see if he can lower the music a bit, without making it sound like an order?