Grade 7 English PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY – LISTENING AND SPEAKING:POLITE LANGUAGE Notes
English — Personal Responsibility
Subtopic: Listening and Speaking — Polite Language (Grammar Focus)
These notes explain the grammar of polite language you can use when talking to teachers, elders, friends or strangers in Kenya. Each point shows the structure and short examples.
1. Modal verbs for polite requests
Use modal verbs + base verb to make requests polite:
- Could / Would / Can / May + base verb: Could you help me?
- Examples:
- Could you please open the window? (polite)
- Would you/ Can you pass the chalk? (classroom request)
- May I go out? (more formal permission)
2. Soften commands (polite imperatives)
Add "please" or use a softer verb form to be polite:
- Please sit down. (polite)
- Do sit down. (formal and courteous)
- Avoid direct orders like Give me that with strangers; say Could you give me that, please?
3. Indirect questions (more polite)
Use indirect question structures to be more polite. Structure: polite verb + question word + subject + verb (no inversion).
- Direct: Where is the headteacher?
- Indirect: Could you tell me where the headteacher is?
- Another: Do you know when the meeting starts?
4. "Would you mind" + -ing (very polite)
Structure: Would you mind + verb-ing? Use to ask for something politely.
- Would you mind closing the door?
- Response grammar:
- No, I don't mind. (Yes, I will do it — permission given)
- Yes, I mind. (I am unwilling — less common)
5. Tag questions to soften statements
Add a short question at the end to sound friendly or confirm information.
- You're coming to school tomorrow, aren't you?
- Form: positive statement + negative tag (You are → aren't you?) and negative statement + positive tag (You aren't → are you?).
6. Saying "thank you" and "sorry" — short grammar notes
- Common replies to thanks:
- You're welcome. (full sentence: You are welcome.)
- No problem.
- My pleasure.
- Apology forms:
- I'm sorry. (contraction of I am)
- Sorry about that.
- Add reason with "because": I'm sorry because I was late.
7. Formal vs informal polite forms
Choose words depending on who you speak to:
- Formal (teachers, elders, officials): May I, Could you please, Would you mind
- Informal (friends): Can you, Please, Mind helping?
- Example (teacher): Excuse me, Madam, may I go to the library?
- Example (friend): Hey, can you help me with this exercise?
8. Short practice (try these)
- Change to a polite request: "Close the window." → __________
- Make indirect: "Where is the principal?" → __________
- Use "Would you mind": "Open the book." → __________
- Tag question: "You will come, __________?"
Answers (click to view)
2. Could you tell me where the principal is?
3. Would you mind opening the book?
4. won't you? or will you? (use "will you?" after negative context; common: You will come, won't you?)
Quick reminder
Use polite grammar to show respect and responsibility. Simple structures like "Could you...?", "Would you mind...?", and indirect questions help you speak politely with teachers, elders and classmates. 🙂