Which is correct?
I would like to request you to refrain from shouting.
I would like to request of you to refrain from shouting.
I would like to request from you to refrain from shouting.
Something else?
Asked
Active
Viewed 6.5k times
8
5 Answers
9
3 is out: one might request an item from a person, but not generally a behavior.
2 is correct but the "of" is unnecessary.
1 just sounds better than the others because it is less wordy.
However, the most direct is, "Please refrain from shouting." Why make it complicated?
kajaco
- 899
-
2Thanks. Regarding the question at the end of your answer: Because that’s not the point in my question. My question is how to use the verb “request”. “Don’t use it” might be a solution in this particular example sentence, but it doesn’t answer the general question. – Timwi Aug 30 '10 at 14:04
-
1Really?? I find (1) to be ungrammatical. – Kosmonaut Aug 30 '10 at 14:04
-
I do not find any of these to be ungrammatical. – Aug 30 '10 at 14:05
3
There is another obvious one to add to your list:
“I would like to request you refrain from shouting.”
I think there are people who use all three forms you suggested. It's a little difficult to say which one is correct but as kajaco said 3. sounds a bit odd.
-
4Or, indeed, "I would like to request that you refrain from shouting" which sounds the most grammatical to my (Australian English-acclimatised) ears. – Cowan Aug 31 '10 at 01:11
-
@Cowan: Exactly. "That" can often be omitted, but it can often sound a bit dodgy/sloppy. Best to include "that", you can never go wrong with it. – Noldorin Sep 01 '10 at 16:09
-
-
-
@Noldorin: please use your question and answer votes to promote or demote the answers which you feel are correct or incorrect, without worrying about whether you are hurting my feelings. – Sep 02 '10 at 01:36
-
-
-
Yes, in my dialect I wouldn't use the infinitive "to refrain" with "request of" or "request from". – Francis Davey Aug 02 '14 at 08:43
-
to request YOU is not grammatical in English. As Cowan said: request THAT you etc. – Lambie Jan 29 '16 at 00:35
1
How about this:
I would like to request that you to refrain from shouting.
-
4
-
+1 This is exactly correct. One requests that someone does something. (that can sometimes be omitted, but may be considered sloppy). Compare the Google results for "request that you" (50M) and "request you" (3M). – Noldorin Sep 01 '10 at 16:07
-
3I agree with Shinto: "to refrain" should be simply "refrain" in the sentence above. – moioci Sep 01 '10 at 18:02
-
2I would like to request that you refrain from shouting is correct, but not I would like to request that you to refrain from shouting. The sentence is made of two clauses: I would like to request, and you refrain from shouting. You don't say (?) you to refrain from shouting. – apaderno Sep 01 '10 at 19:06
-
Oops, I read this too quickly. I suspect it was written too quickly too! Up-vote removed. – Noldorin Sep 01 '10 at 23:23
-
2I think someone should just edit this. The "to" makes all the difference here, but the point is that request should be followed by "that", which I agree with. – tenfour Mar 14 '11 at 13:01
-
This is the only suggestion that is actually ungrammatical, as combining the subjunctive (after request) with an infinitive. Deleting the 'to' would give a better sentence, but would not be an answer to the question asked. – Tim Lymington Jul 27 '11 at 11:36
-1
The simple answer is that it varies. You can:
Request [a person] to [do something]~ 'request visitors to remove their shoes'
Request to have [a thing or a favour]~ request to have his telephone upgraded'
Request for [a thing or favour] ~ 'a request for a new computer'
Request that [something happens] ~ 'request that you refrain from shouting'
Roaring Fish
- 15,115
-
-
request visitor removes their shoes - no to; request a new computer, no for. – Lambie Jan 29 '16 at 00:36