Polite Request

1.2 Polite requests with “I” as the subject

A. May I and Could I

• May I (please) borrow your pencil?
  
• Could I borrow your pencil (please)?
  

May I and could I are used to request permission. They are equally polite (might opt.). In polite request, could has a present or future meaning, not a past meaning.

B. Can I

• Can I borrow your book?
  

Can I is used informally to request permission, especially if the speaker is talking to someone she/he knows fairly well. Can I is usually not considered as polite as may I or could I.
The response to a polite request often consists of an action, a nod or shake of the head, or a simple “uh-huh”. The typical responses usually are:

• Certainly. Yes, certainly.
  
• Of course. Yes, of course.
  
• Sure. (Informal)
  

1.3 Polite Requests with “You” as the subject

a. Would you and will you

• Would you pass the salt (please)?
  
• Will you (please) pass the salt?
  

The meaning of would you and will you in a polite request is the same. Would you is more common and often considered more polite. The degree of politeness, however, is often determined by the speaker’s tone of voice.

b. Could you

• Could you pass the salt?
  

Basically, could you and would you have the same meaning. The difference 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?
could you and would you are equally polite.

c. Can you

• Can you pass the salt?
  

Can you is often used informally. It usually sounds less polite than could you or would you. 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.). The typical responses are:

• Yes, I’d (I would) be happy to.
  
• Yes, I’d be glad to.
  
• Certainly.
  
• Sure. (Informal)
  

Exercise 2
Ask and answer polite questions!

1. Andy and Anna are sitting at the dinner table. Andy wants the butter.
2. You want to ask your teacher a question.
3. You are at your friend’s house. You want to use the phone.
4. You are speaking on the phone to your friend. You want him to pick you up at the air port when you arrive home.
5. You want to leave class early. You are speaking to your instructor.