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1

Which is correct?

  1. I would like to request you to refrain from shouting.

  2. I would like to request of you to refrain from shouting.

  3. I would like to request from you to refrain from shouting.

  4. Something else?

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5 Answers

up vote 2 down vote accepted

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.

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4  
Or, 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 1:11
@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 1 '10 at 16:09
@Noldorin: so that is the reason you downvoted my post? You're a hero. – delete Sep 1 '10 at 22:59
I'm sorry. Did I hurt your feelings? – Noldorin Sep 1 '10 at 23:25
@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. – delete Sep 2 '10 at 1:36
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up vote 4 down vote

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?

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2  
Thanks. 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
1  
Really?? I find (1) to be ungrammatical. – Kosmonaut Aug 30 '10 at 14:04
I do not find any of these to be ungrammatical. – delete Aug 30 '10 at 14:05
up vote 2 down vote

How about this:

I would like to request that you to refrain from shouting.

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2  
That seems ungrammatical to me. – delete Aug 31 '10 at 7:55
+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 1 '10 at 16:07
1  
I agree with Shinto: "to refrain" should be simply "refrain" in the sentence above. – moioci Sep 1 '10 at 18:02
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I 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. – kiamlaluno Sep 1 '10 at 19:06
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I 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
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up vote 0 down vote

What about "for"? An RFP is a "request for proposal."

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up vote 0 down vote

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'

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If this is the simple answer, what is the real one? +1 anyway – user21032 May 15 '12 at 20:09

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