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Unit 4: 5 ways to use 'would'
Pronunciation : sound like a native English speaker

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  1. 1 Go beyond intermediate with our new video course
  2. 2 Reported speech in 90 seconds!
  3. 3 If or whether?
  4. 4 5 ways to use 'would'
  5. 5 Let and allow
  6. 6 Passive voice
  7. 7 Unless
  8. 8 Mixed conditionals
  9. 9 The zero article - in 90 seconds
  10. 10 The indefinite article - in 90 seconds
  11. 11 The. That's right - the! Learn all about it in 90 seconds
  12. 12 The continuous passive
  13. 13 Future perfect
  14. 14 Need + verb-ing
  15. 15 Have something done
  16. 16 Wish
  17. 17 Word stress
  18. 18 Different ways of saying 'if'
  19. 19 Passive reporting structures
  20. 20 The subjunctive
  21. 21 When and if
  22. 22 Inversion
  23. 23 Phrasal verbs
  24. 24 The future
  25. 25 Modals in the past
  26. 26 Narrative tenses
  27. 27 Phrasal verb myths
  28. 28 Conditionals review
  29. 29 Used to - review
  30. 30 Linking words of contrast

Session 4

How to be more polite! Join Helen as she helps another student improve his English.

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Session 4 score

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    Activity 1
  1. Activity 1

Activity 1

Stop saying

Indirect questions

We have a question from Igor from Brazil, who's studying English at Rose of York school in London. He wants to know how to ask questions more politely in English.

Lucky for him, Helen has some tips on this very subject. Watch her video and practise together.

Watch the video and complete the activity

Summary

Notice how we use these phrases to make questions more polite:

  • Do you know...
  • Could you tell me...
  • Would you mind...
  • Is there any chance...

1) Direct: Where is the cafe?

Indirect: Do you know where the cafe is?

2) Direct: When will you finish the report?

Indirect: Could you tell me when you'll finish the report?

3) Direct: Where is the toilet?

Indirect: Would you mind telling me where the toilets are?

4) Direct: Can you help me?

Indirect: Is there any chance you could help me with this?

We can also use if and whether, like this:

I wonder if you can help me?

Do you know if there's a bank near here?

Could you tell me whether Mark prefers fish or chicken curry?

To do

Read these five sentences:

1) Where is the hotel?

2) When will the guests arrive?

3) Where is the exit?

4) Can you help me?

5) Is Mike coming? 

Be polite, please!

5 Questions

Can you make polite questions using these words?

Congratulations you completed the Quiz
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End of Session 4

In the next session we take a seat in the White Elephant restaurant. Join us for more adventures as we learn some phrases connected to annoyance.

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