- Polite Requests with "I" as the Subject
In Polite Request commennly people use several modals verb to express it. Those modals are MAY, COULD, CAN. Let's see for the example in the sentences :
- May I ( please ) borrow your pen ?
- Can I borrow your pen ( Please ) ? [ COULD has a present or future meaning, not a past meaning ]
*May I and Could I are used to request permission. they are equally polite.
*Might is also possible for instance : Might I borrow your pen ? Might I is quite formal and polite; it is used less frequently than may I and could I.
TYPICAL RESPONSES
> Certainly ==> Yes, certainly.
> Of course ==> Yes, of course
> Sure ==> (informal)
*often the response to a polite request is an action, such as nood or shake of the head, or simple "uh-huh."
- Polite Requwst with "YOU" as the Subject
In Polite Request commennly people use several modals verb to express it. Those modals are WOULD, WILL, COULD, and CAN. Let's see for the example in the sentences :
- Would you pass the salt (please)?
- Will you (please) pass the salt?
- Could you pass the salt (please)?
- Can you (please) pass the salt?
May you pass the salt?[INCORRECT]
* (1, 2) The meaning of would you and will you in pile request is same. would you is more common and is often considered more polite. The digegree of politeness, however, is often determined by the speaker's tone of voice.
* (3) Basically, could you and would you have the same meaning. The different is slight:
> Would you = Do you want to do this please?
> Could you = Do you want to do this please, and is it possible for you to do this?
> Would you and could you are equally polite.
*(4) Can you is often used informally. It usually sounds less polite than could you or would you.
TYPICAL RESPONSE
> Yes, I'd (I would) be happy to/be glad to
> Certainly.
> Sure (informal)
* A person usually responds in the affirmative to a polite request. if a negative response, is necessary, a person might begin by saying "I'd like to, but ...... " (e.g., "I'd like to pass the salt, but I can't reach it").
- Polite Request with Would You Mind
ASKING PERMISSION
- Would you mind if I closed the window?
- Would you mind if I used the phone?
TYPICAL RESPONSE
> No, not at all/of course not.
> No, that would be fine
> (another typical respnse might be "unh-unh" meaning NO
ASKING SOMEONE TO DO SOMETHING
- Would you mind closing the door?
- Excuse me. Would you mind repeating that?
TYPICAL RESPONSE
> No, I'd be happy to.
> Not at all. I'd be glad to.
> Sure./Okay. (common and informal)
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