What is Could you please? Distinguishing between Would/Will and Could you please

Could you please is not an unfamiliar structure for those who are in the process of conquering English. So what does the phrase Could you please mean and how is it used? Let's explore the answers together below!

I. What is Could you please?

What is Could? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, Could is the past form of the modal verb Can, meaning: used as a more polite form of "can" when asking for permission or asking someone to provide/ do something, express possibility (especially slight or uncertain possibility), used for making a suggestion. For example:

• When Jennie was younger, Jennie could stay up all night and not get tired. 
• Tom asked if the computer could access the internet. 

What is Please? According to the Cambridge Dictionary, Please functions as an exclamation, meaning: used to make a request more polite or add force to a request or demand. For example:

• Could I have two teas and a coffee, please? 
• Please remember to close the door before you leave. 

So what does Could you please mean? The structure Could you please is used to ask or request someone politely. For example:

• Could you please help Sammy solve this problem? 
• Could you please show me the way to the post office? 

II. How to use Could you please

Below is the structure of Could you please:

Could you please + V (infinitive) + …

For example:

• Could you please tell Tom to call me back? 
• Could you please answer my question? 

III. Distinguishing Could/Would/Will you please

In addition to the common use of asking or requesting someone politely to do something, the structure of Could/Would/Will you please also has certain differences. Let's explore the differences in using the Could/Would/Will you please structure together below!

IV. Exercises on Could you please structure with answers

Preppies, let’s reinforce the Could you please structure with these exercises below!

1. Exercises

Find and correct errors in the sentences below:

1. Could you please turning down the music? I'm trying to study.
2. Could you please picked up some groceries on your way home?
3. Will you please to take care of the dog while I'm away this weekend?
4. Would you please closed the door behind you when you leave?
5. Would you please to proofread my report for any errors?
6. Could you please passed me the salt? 
7. Will you please shutting the window? 
8. Would you please to arrive on time for the meeting? 
9. Can you please called the repair technician?
10. Will you please closing the door behind you?
11. Could you please helping me with this assignment?
12. Would you please waited for me outside?
13. Can you please let’s me know if you're available this weekend?
14. Will you please returning the books to the library?
15. Could you please to pick up my dry cleaning?

2. Answer

1. Could you please turn down the music? I'm trying to study. (turning ➞ turn) 
2. Could you please pick up some groceries on your way home? (picked ➞ pick) 
3. Will you please take care of the dog while I'm away this weekend? (to take ➞ take) 
4. Would you please close the door behind you when you leave? (closed ➞ close) 
5. Would you please proofread my report for any errors? (to proofread ➞ proofread)
6. Could you please pass me the salt? (passed ➞ pass)
7. Will you please shut the window? (shutting ➞ shut)
8. Would you please arrive on time for the meeting? (to arrive ➞ arrive)
9. Can you please call the repair technician? (called ➞ call)
10. Will you please close the door behind you? (closing ➞ close)
11. Could you please help me with this assignment? (helping ➞ help)
12. Would you please wait for me outside? (waited ➞ wait)
13. Can you please let me know if you're available this weekend? (let’s ➞ let)
14. Will you please return the books to the library? (returning ➞ return)
15. Could you please pick up my dry cleaning? ( to pick ➞ pick)

PREP hopes this article on the Could you please structure has helped you understand better how to use it and distinguish the differences between Could you please and "Would/Will you please". Let’s follow PREP to learn more quality English knowledge!