HaHa Almaz, that�s exactly how much of the population would express it!  The original example is way too polite for someone who�s left the box on. But then, who would do that these days?  The  younger generation seem to all be watching Netflix on their own device, in their bedroom, with the door closed. Big screens are no longer necessary like they once were.

Giorgi is right about this. There is no context provided, so both sentences are fine. Imagine this: (We need to save energy). If you weren �t watching the TV, would you turn it off?

And how right he is about grammar tests! 

Giorgi, what I was saying is that the hypothetical sentence you proposed (If you were not watching the television, would you turn it off?) is grammatically correct, but isn �t something we would say. Thinking more about it, I guess it could happen in a specific situation. If a personality quiz were being conducted, and this question were posed to determine how considerate the person is in specific household situations, I guess it might ask "If you were not watching the television, would you turn it off?". However, I can �t see this particular sentence being used in a regular situation.

 

But, for us, one important thing is whether we would accept it if a student gave it as the answer on a test. Since it is grammatically correct, then of course.

 

Bruce