We don't have 'polite language' in English. But over time the scoring system became more realistic and the changes became subtler. Or if it is less formal, you would say "Can you please do X (when you get some time, etc.)?". “Will you please”, “can you please”, and simply “please” are all more direct and non-negotiable forms of request that seem more like polite imperatives. Both are commonly used to ask someone to do something, so there is not a big difference between them in the meaning. No. Imagine all the inconvenience, wasted time, and money this might cause them. Here is a good expression for formal emails and letters: Form: I would be grateful if you could + base form of verb …. like ability, permission, and asking for assistance. No, I’m sorry. Study Zone / Level 330 — Lower Intermediate / Grammar Topics / Modals of Polite Request: Would you, Could you, Will you, Can you Modals of Polite Request: Would you, Could you, Will you, Can you Choose the best modal for each sentence. They are always followed by the simple form of a verb. :-). For example, Would you mind taking to take a look at this. Of course. My question is specifically about "please can/could you" as opposed to "could you please" - whether one is more polite and/or common than the other. Would you please may be considered as slightly more polite than Could you please. I hope that wasn't meant to be offensive because it certainly sounds it !! Legal Notices | We do not use the word “may” in a polite question or Will you? Could you PLEASE turn off the lights in your room? Practice making requests with adding, “please”, “excuse me”, “pardon and so on. Remember that mind is followed by the gerund (ing). The word “please” makes the request more polite and less / (B) "Could you please say 'hi' to the elephants for me? You could also expand on this so the person knows the reason why they should be quiet. Each of these three question types can be used politely, but certain indirect forms are more formal and polite than other types of questions. I hope this helps. Could/Would you please pass me the salt? Participation is free and the site has a strict confidentiality policy. My hands are full. _____ If you're asking for information, use Can you? And rather than position "please" at the beginning of the sentence, the system learned to insert it within the sentence: "Could you please send me the file?" It's a fallacy people have been brainwashed into believing. Prabhumoye said the researchers have released their labeled dataset for use by other researchers, hoping to encourage them to further study politeness. Also, try adding “can” or “could to your sentences and your efforts will be appreciated by native speakers. can’t. Now, if you’re dealing with someone who is a stickler for English (e.g., an elementary school English teacher), “could” is the right word. 4. You can also say ''Please can / could you help me with my bag'', but we often put ''please'' at the end of the sentence. (2020, June 30). Reviewing applications can be fun and only takes a few minutes. Login or register (free and only takes a few minutes) to participate in this question. asks about an ability. If you wanted to sound a little more formal, you could say I should be most grateful if you would send me the document. - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary Use “Could you give me that please,”, “Could you show me, please” and “Could you move, please.”. 9. Thanks a lot for your great help Rachel, and to everyone who contributed. You could be handling a situation in which you really do … Review native language verification applications submitted by your peers. Can I / could I / may I / might I . could you please approve. Can you hold my books for me? I usually avoid it b/c the construction is halfway betw a question/request and an order. When terminating an appointment, you should give a clear notice immediately. I agree, although in the US, we don't really say "please can you.." (sounds odd to me grammatically). Right! Instead of asking, “Could you please explain…?” be sure to ask, “Could you please clarify…?” to sound more professional, more intelligent, and more fluent when speaking English. Tel -> Thank you Kim - not always the way (that there's no difference)! Certainly. Making Polite Requests: Formal, Informal, and Semi-formal. Would you please email that document to me? No other types of requests are of interest. Monitor carefully and wrap-up by … For simple requests, we can be fairly direct. Or be 'more' polite if it is necessary to avoid any backlash or animosity between you and the other person. I’d love to, but I’m busy right now. If you observe the ways native English speakers speak to someone, you will find uses of “please,” “sorry,” “excuse me,” “thanks,” and the like. Email Will you please answer the phone? Say: I think you might be mistaken. One form to avoid when asking for things is the imperative form.Saying "Give me that" (imperative) instead of "Could you give me that" (indirect) puts you at risk of sounding rude. 0. https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/english-grammar-reference/can-and-could This is a polite phrase I That is perfectly fine. ‘Don’t forget your please and thank you!’ was perhaps your grandmother’s way of saying ‘try to be polite.’. In conversational English, either one would be understood. We also use 'could' to ask permission; it is more polite or formal than 'can'. And if the teenager wants to complain back, he or she can say: I said I will when I go upstairs. busy right now. If you are requesting something for yourself, all of these forms are possible. (means yes). Also, could is a little more polite than can. / (A) "Sure, which elephants do you want me to say 'hi' to, etc. direct. I am not asking about polite questions in general, so please no mission creep here! Uh-huh. You must try to milden their dissatisfaction through much politeness and apology. Would you mind…? These words are used by people who love being polite. Could you explain that again, please? Privacy - Print page. Polite requests in written English. Canadians use “please” often and visitors are expected to ask for help politely, using “please.”. Is there really this difference between the two sides of the Atlantic? Step 1 Clearly describe changes. Keep in mind that Would you mind is a bit more polite than Can/could you…? Explanation: "Please could you" is more polite than "please can you". Or: Actually… (say the correct information) Or: I’m afraid I … And rather than position “please” at the beginning of the sentence, the system learned to insert it within the sentence: “Could you please send me the file?” Prabhumoye said the researchers have released their labeled dataset for use by other researchers, hoping to encourage them to further study politeness. Thus, the key rules here are politeness, reasonableness, and timeliness. Yes certainly. In many languages, asking for help is a lot more direct and the way you say something really isn’t taken into account. say: Will you/ Can you (please) + simple verb + ...? Initially, the system had a tendency to simply add words to sentences, such as "please" or "sorry." Could/Would you do me a favor? Can, could or may ? For example, "Could you please be quiet, I am trying to study." For another site operated by ProZ.com for finding translators and getting found, go to, General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters. Canadians use “please” often and visitors are expected to ask for help Many modal verbs have Could you please close the door? This is correct. Let’s start there. How polite something seems comes from the tone you set and there are infinite ways to create an impression through language. Sorry, I can’t. posted on 03.06.2020 at 17:27. I’d like to, but I can’t. For US usage, people normally say "could you please do X?" Politeness is a big factor in asking for help in English and if you don’t do it right, you may find that no one wants to give you a hand. (or are passionate about them). Thank you: Method automatically makes requests more polite. Both are polite, and no reasonable professor would take objection to either. Study Zone / Level 330 — Lower Intermediate / Grammar Topics / Modals of Polite Request: Would you, Could you, Will you, Can you. You can use Can or Will in all three above, but Could and Would, especially when you add please, are a little more polite. This is not a polite request, but an angry request, and a complaint about something that the teenager hasn't done. “Please take off your shoes” doesn’t leave much room for debate or argument; you’d better have some warm socks on. To ask questions in a polite but more casual way, We often have to make requests and ask for things in our letters and emails. I’m working. If "Please help me" was considered polite, the system considered "Please please please help me" even more polite. The KudoZ network provides a framework for translators and others to assist each other with translations or explanations of terms and short phrases. You will also have access to many other tools and opportunities designed for those who have language-related jobs If you do choose to use “explain,” be sure to be very specific about what you need explained, naming a particular idea, detail, or viewpoint. "Could you please deal with it?" There is a slight difference in meaning between the two phrases that makes one more polite than the other. when “you” is the subject. This If you don't say ''can'' or ''could'', it's not very polite! In fact, I am equally interested in both UK and US usage, so thank you all for your inputs so far! | Having them together would only make sense if you really wanted to emphasize how important it was to be polite. politely, using “please.”. Your friend is right. I suppose the qn mark is a matter of choice. Impolite ‘Please’. Okay. When you are sure that you understand the lesson, you can continue with the exercise. If you just say ''Please + verb'' it sounds like an order. more than one meaning. Could/can you…please? I would prefer the word please in more formal communications.Kindly would be better-suited for familiar environments. Sorry. These four questions are made with modal verbs: Modal verbs are helping/auxiliary verbs that express ideas Yes, of course. "I apologise but can you please keep it down, I am just trying to study." 250-721-8469 To ask questions in a very polite way, use: Would you/ Could you (please) + simple verb + ...? Sitemap. Could/Would you please help me lift this? Example: I would be grateful if you could send me your price list. 4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer. elcreg@uvic.ca, 2021 © Continuing Studies at UVic "may" and "would" seem to have been forgotten. The word “please” makes the request more polite and less direct. You can request verification for native languages by completing a simple application that takes only a couple of minutes. Politeness is a virtue. There's no difference between UK and US usage in this case. We can add “ most ” to be even more polite: Example: Look it up then to find out whether it is offensive or not? Please and kindly are both used to be more polite to other people. Can you? Yet while ‘ thank you ‘ is still important to civilized discourse, I find that ‘ please ‘ has almost the opposite effect in American English. Politeness - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary I need it ASAP*. Possible positive answers to the questions above: Yes. Copyright © 1999-2021 ProZ.com - All rights reserved. Would you PLEASE stop asking me that? Carnegie Mellon University. In this video 29, we will learn how to use "Would you please" for Polite Request. does sound less polite than "Could you please take a look at it?" Here we can see some examples of requests with could you and would you.Note the different levels of politeness: shows that the speaker is asking for help politely. Michael Swan, Practical English Usage: Can and could - interpersonal uses (permission, requests) We 'can' ask for and give permission: "Can I ask you for something"? ScienceDaily. I think that “would you please” is one of those phrases that is intended to sound extra-polite, but instead comes off much more condescending than “could.” Two_Many_Cats January 21, 2011, 2:10am To do this, we use phrases like could you and would you.. Making a request. To summarise, it looks like either way to put this request would be ok in the UK, with only minor differences in the degree of politeness, but that the one that starts with "please can/could you" would not be ok in the US. I didn’t understand. I’m Could your computer please be more polite? Possible positive answers to the questions above: Sure.

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