Module 4: Services
Summary: At the Airport
Key points
- Polite requests ask someone to do something without sounding rude.
- Would you mind + verb-ing…? is very polite.
- Could you + base verb…? is polite; add “please”.
- To agree with “Would you mind…?”, answer “No, not at all / Of course not”.
- Air travel words: flight, boarding pass, seat, aisle, seat belt, take off, customs, luggage.
- /ə/ is the weak sound in about, letter, doctor; /ɜː/ is the long sound in sir, service.
Rules to remember
Would you mind + -ing
Would you mind opening the window? / Would you mind not talking so loudly?
Could you + base verb
Could you show me your boarding pass, please?
Answering
Yes, I’ll do it: No, not at all. / Sure! / Certainly. — No, I can’t: I’m sorry, but I can’t.
How to do it
- Choose the structure: Would you mind… (+ -ing) or Could you… (+ base verb).
- Add please and a question mark.
- Answer politely, and thank: That’s very kind of you.
Example
Would you mind putting my bag in the locker? – Not at all. Here you are!
Common mistakes
- *Would you mind to help me?* ▸ Would you mind helping me?
- *Could you helping me?* ▸ Could you help me?
- Answering “Yes” to “Would you mind…?” when you want to help ▸ say “No, not at all”.
Key words
Summary written by سكولار for quick revision: it does not replace the lesson and its exercises.