Dear Cafetalk Community!

How are you doing? I hope you're doing well and you had a great weekend!

Today I wanted to write about using "Will you..." or "Would you..." or "Could you..." to start a sentence. They are all basically the same and always used to start a question.

[For example:]

"Will you hold the elevator door?"

"Would you mind holding the elevator door?"

"Could you please hold the elevator door?"

All of the sentences above have the same meaning. In Japanese culture, I noticed that most people have a way of trying to find round-about, subtle, and gentle ways of saying things. The above examples are polite and softer ways of asking questions starting with the words "will," "could," and "would." Especially, the phrase "Would you mind . . .?"

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[If you want to get technical, please read the definition by Google:]

Would is a past-tense form of will. If you are writing about past events, you can use it to indicate something that was in the future at that point in time, but is not (in the future right now. In other words, you use would to preserve the future aspect when talking about the past. (Google)

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In my opinion, I believe the above will only confuse you and I think the phrases are basically interchangeable. I've noticed that sometimes students get too concerned about using the correct grammar that it prevents them from speak fluidly. (At the same time, I also believe grammar is ultimately important.) I suggest learning the use of "will," "could," and "would." It is a good way to start a question politely.

Hope the above helps! Thank you for letting me share! Have a great week ahead!

Warmest regards,

Lady Ayame

(Patricia Ayame Thomson)