Indirect questions in English. Polite requests in English Polite request form
When speaking English, you often need to resort to requests. They can be different: we ask for a serious favor, a trivial favor, most often the requests are small and we do not expect them to be refused (“Could you please turn the music down?”) Today we will look at how to ask permission in English, ask for help and even make an offer!
How to attract attention and call a person in English
Before you ask a stranger for something, you need to get his attention. The easiest way:
- Excuse me!- Sorry! – Suitable for any situation.
- Sir! (sir) - when addressing a stranger.
- Ma'am(ma'am, ma'am - short for madam) - when addressing an unfamiliar woman.
- Miss(miss) - when addressing an unfamiliar young woman.
Request-order
When we ask our interlocutor for something, we say it in the form of an incentive sentence. Its main element (sometimes the only one) is. However, in itself, without politeness formulas, an incentive sentence sounds like an order, a command, and not a request:
Pass me some butter. - Pass me some butter.
Don't tell my parents about it. - Don't tell my parents about this.
Stand up. - Stand up.
Wake your cat up. - Wake up your cat.
A request in the form of a soft order
To turn an order into a request, however, not a very soft one, it is enough to add the word please(“please”) at the beginning or end of a sentence.
Please, pass me some butter. - Please pass me some oil.
Please, don't tell my parents. – Please don't tell my parents.
Stand up please. - Stand up please.
Wake your cat up please. – Wake up your cat, please.
This type of request cannot be called soft or delicate; in a certain context, it may sound like an order.
Polite requests in English with COULD YOU, WOULD YOU, CAN YOU and the difference between them
If you want to ask politely, add one of the politeness formulas to your sentence:
- Could you please?
- Would you+ incentive offer + please?
- Can you+ incentive offer + please?
The part that is designated as an “incentive sentence” begins with (without the particle to). Let me remind you that in the affirmative form such a verb looks the same as it is presented in the dictionary ( initial form):
- help - to help
- tell - to speak
In negative form a particle is added not:
- not help - not to help
- not tell - not to speak
Note: in all versions, the word please can be placed after “you”, for example: “Could you help me, please?”
We’ll return to the differences between these three formulas a little later, first let’s look at examples with “could you”. Here could you translates as “could you…”, the word please may be omitted in Russian translation if it is not appropriate. The sentence becomes interrogative and is pronounced with a questioning intonation.
Could you please, pass me some butter? – Could you pass me some oil?
Could you don't tell my parents about it, please? – Could you please not tell my parents about this?
Could you stand up please. - Could you stand up, please?
Could you wake your cat up, please. – Could you wake up your cat?
Pay attention to the example with negation (about parents). Negation is expressed using not; no “don’t” needs to be added here:
- Right: Could you please don't do that?
- Wrong: Could you please don't do that?
Now let's go back to the difference between could you, would you, can you.
Instead of could you can be used would you or can you. For example:
Would will you pass me some butter, please?
Can do you stand up, please?
These options can be translated into Russian in the same way as those with could you:“Could you…” But there is a difference between them, albeit a small one. It can be explained simply, or it can be complicated.
Without going into details, then
- Could you, would you- the formula for a polite request, there is no difference in meaning or degree of politeness between them.
- Can you- the formula for a slightly less polite request. Roughly speaking, this is the same as in Russian you would say “Can you pass me the butter?” instead of “Could you pass me the butter?”
If you dig a little deeper, then:
- Saying “ Can you pass me some butter, please?”, we ask the interlocutor if he has physical ability pass the oil. It is clear that we are asking for a reason, but thereby expressing a request.
- Essence of the question " Could you pass me some butter, please?” the same, but the question itself is asked in a slightly softer, indirect form. Again, compare the analogues in Russian: “Can you pass the oil?” - “Could you pass the oil?”
- Question " Would you pass me some butter, please?” refers not to the possibility, but to the desire of the interlocutor to pass on the oil. Something like: “Would you pass me the butter, please?”
On practice these differences are not significant in small requests: serve the oil, open the window, that is, in cases where the request is a pure formality, it is guaranteed not to be refused. The degree of politeness/impoliteness will be much more affected by intonation.
The difference in questions with would you And could you is more noticeable when we are talking not about a small request, but about consent, desire do something. For example, if a guy wants to invite a girl to the cinema, he is more likely to say: “Would you go to cinema with me?” , and not “Could you go to the cinema with me?”, because in the first case he inquires about her desire (“Would you like to go to the cinema with me?”), consent, and in the second - about the possibility (“Do not could you go to the cinema with me?”).
By the way, when you need to ask for consent in a more confident, decisive form, it is better to use a question with rather than its would form. Classic example: “Will you marry me?” - "Will you marry me?"
Polite requests in English with “Do you mind”
Expression “Do (would) you mind + “ used as a polite request to do something.
Do you mind opening the window? - Could you open the window?
Would you mind not smoking? - Could you please stop smoking?
Note: there is a similar phrase “Do (would) you mind if I...” - it is used not as a request to do something, but to obtain permission, we will return to it a little later.
Ask for a favor or help
You can ask for a favor, usually larger than giving a chair, or for help using the following expressions:
- Could you do me a favor?– Could you do me a favor?
You can ask this question to a friend, a colleague, or a stranger. Example:
- Excuse me, could you do me a favour?- Can you help me?
– Sure. - Certainly can.
– Can you watch my stuff for me for a few minutes? I'll be right back. -Can you look after my things? I'll be right back.
The core of the phrase is “do me a favour”, it can also be used in a slightly different form, not necessarily strictly as “Could you do me a favour?”. Examples:
Dear, do me a favor and turn the TV off, please. - Honey, do me a favor, turn off the TV, please.
Can you do me a favor and shut up, please? “Could you do me a favor and shut up, please?”
- Can you help me out (with something)?– Can you help me out?
Please help me with something, help me out. This is usually how they address friends and acquaintances.
Can you help me out tomorrow? I need to move my stuff but my car is too small for that. – Can you help me out tomorrow? I need to move my junk and my car is too small for that.
“Can you help me out WITH” will mean “to help out, to help with something”:
Can you help me out with my homework? -Won't you help me with mine? homework?
- Can you give me a hand (with something)?- Can you help me?
Usually this means some kind of physical help right now.
Can you give me a hand? I can't lift this box. - Can you help me? I can't lift this box.
Or the same thing, but in other words:
Can you give me a hand with this box? – Can you help me with this box?
“help me out” can be used in the same meaning:
Can you help me out with this box?
- I'd like- I would like
Requests from "I'd like" usually addressed to service workers and maintenance personnel. For example, this expression is usually used to place an order.
Note: after “would like” it is used with the particle to.
Hi, I would like to order a pizza. - Hello, I would like to order pizza.
I'd like to have a taxi. – I would like to order a taxi.
I'd like(to have) a hamburger, please. - I would like (to order) a hamburger.
How to ask permission in English?
Requests include not only incentive offers, the essence of which is that we ask the interlocutor to do something, but also questions the purpose of which is to obtain permission. In other words, asking permission is also a request.
There are also several colloquial formulas for this case:
- Can I\May I– “Can I...” or “Can I...”
For example:
May I ask you a question? - Can I ask you a question?
Can I help you? - Can I help you?
Strictly speaking, in such a question it means physical possibility, and - permission, but in ordinary everyday speech these distinctions are so erased that there is absolutely no difference in how to ask for permission, “Can I go?” and “May I go?” they do not differ in meaning. However, the option with may more appropriate in a strict formal setting.
For example, the event host makes an announcement:
Ladies and gentlemen, may I have your attention, please? – Ladies and gentlemen, I ask for your attention (literally: “may I have your attention”).
- Can I have\May I have- "Can I…"
Particular attention should be paid to the following request: Can I have… (May I have). It is used when we want to receive something, we ask to give us something:
Can I have a candy, please? – Can I have some candy, please?
Excuse me may I have a cup of water? - Excuse me, can I have a cup of water?
May I have your name and address, please? – May I know your name and address, please?
- Is it ok if I...?- “It’s okay if I...”
The expressions “Is it ok if I...” or “Is it all right if I...” is an analogue of our “It’s okay if I... (do something).” This is how we politely ask for permission. For example:
Is it ok if I take your bike? - Is it okay if I take your bike?
Is it all right if I come to the party with my friend? – Is it okay if I come to the party with a friend?
- Do (would) you mind if...?- “Do you mind if...”
“Do you mind if” is a polite way to ask permission. Literally: “Do you mind if,” but in Russian we say “Do you mind?” or “Do you mind?”
Do you mind if I open the window? – No, of course not! – Do you mind if I open the window? - No, of course I don’t mind.
Do you mind if I smoke? – No problem. – Do you mind if I smoke? - No problem.
Instead of do can be used would, you get a softer request:
Would you mind if I open the window? – Would you mind if I open the window?
A possible option: “Don’t you mind if,” that is, literally “You don’t mind if.” There is no difference between them, it’s just that the second one is a little more delicate, the speaker seems to admit that the interlocutor may well object. There is a little confusion with the answers with this option.
For example:
Don't you mind if I open the window? – Do you mind if I open the window?
In theory, if a person doesn’t mind, he will say: “Yes,” meaning “yes, I don’t mind” (yes, I don’t mind). But he can also say “no”, meaning “no, I don’t mind” - this is not entirely grammatically correct, but such an answer is possible. Although in practice people very rarely answer the question “Do you mind if I…” with a sharp “Yes, I am against it!” The answer will most likely be in a more polite form, for example: “Oh, sorry but I have a cold” (sorry, but I have a cold).
You shouldn’t do this only with the Russians; you can’t understand the British with your mind either. They live on their island, and their home is a fortress, they are all enslaved and unsociable. And pathological politeness lives in them from birth. However, as they say: When in Rome do as the Romans do(They don’t go to someone else’s monastery with their own rules). Since you have decided to learn English, please learn English politeness. Maybe we just don't have enough of it. I often repeat that I am beautiful English speech- grammatically correct, lexically rich and pronounced as needed - will endear your interlocutor to you. Correct speech and pronunciation are impressive, so do not underestimate the desire for perfectionism in the language. You can get a lot of goodies with it. Believe me, all the pain you go through to speak English well is not in vain. They will bear fruit. But it's not just how you speak that matters, it's also what you say. Therefore, you need to know what conversational forms to use so that people clearly feel your polite attitude towards them.
1. Could/would
One of the basic rules of politeness is to replace can in requests with could or would and add please.
For example:
Can you give me your book? -> Could you give me your book please?
(Can you give me your book? -> Could you give me your book?)
Can you call me later? -> Would you call me please?
(Can you call later? -> Could you call later?)
Come tomorrow. -> Would you be so kind to come again tomorrow?
(Come tomorrow. -> Could you be so kind as to come again tomorrow?)
2. Shock absorber words
When you need to convey unpleasant information, report a refusal, disagreement, etc., use the so-called “shock absorber words” (softeners):
I'm afraid- Afraid
so sorry- Sorry
to be honest- Honestly
unfortunately- Unfortunately
with all respect- with all due respect
For example:
With all respect I have to decline your offer. (With all due respect I must turn down your suggestion)
I am afraid you don’t have enough experience. (I'm afraid you don't have enough experience)
It's a matter of choice of words. Instead of straightforward certainty, there should be polite uncertainty masking reality. A modal verb is also often added for this purpose might/may.
For example:
(Completing the project will take longer. -> Completion of the project may take longer)
IN best traditions For British understatement, we use the following shock absorber words: a little, a bit, a little bit, slight, slightly, small, one or two before nouns. All in order not to sound rude, too assertive and unrestrained.
For example:
We are having problems with the new product. -> We are having one or two problems with the new product.
(We have problems with the new product. -> We have small problems with the product)
We will run over budget. -> We might run slightly over budget.
(We will go over budget. - We will go slightly over budget)
The marketing campaign is behind schedule. -> The marketing campaign is a little bit behind schedule.
(Marketing campaign is behind plan. -> Marketing campaign is slightly behind plan.)
3. Negative questions
To soften the effect in cases where you want to suggest something, it is better to use negative questions:
We should redesign the company logo! -> Shouldn’t we redesign the company logo?
(We should redo the company logo! -> Shouldn't we redo the company logo?)
We must hire a new advertising agency. -> Couldn’t we hire a new advertising agency?
We must hire a new advertising agency. -> Wouldn’t it be better to hire a new advertising agency?
4. Past Continuous
Another way to make a sentence more diplomatic and less direct is to use the Past Continuous.
I hope we can sign the contract today. -> I was hoping that we could sign the contract today.
(I hope we can sign the contract today. -> I hoped to sign the contract today)
Using the Past Continuous makes your sentence hypothetical. In the Russian translation the difference is not noticeable, but in English the Past Continuous adds politeness to your speech.
I think we need to hire more employees. -> I was thinking we need to hire more employees.
(I think we need to hire more workers. -> I think we need to hire more workers)
I aim to finish this project by the end of the month. -> I was aiming to finish this project by the end of the month.
(I expect to complete the project by the end of the month. -> I expect to complete the project by the end of the month)
5. Passive Voice
You have broken my computer! (You broke my computer!)
This sentence in the active voice is so direct that it borders on rudeness. And if you want to avoid a bloody scene (that is, you don’t want to directly accuse a person), you should use the passive voice. It will help you be more diplomatic:
My computer has been broken! (My computer is broken!)
In this way, you shift attention from the culprit of the action to the object of the action and mitigate the person’s personal responsibility for what was done.
You said you were going to sign the deal today. -> It was understood that you were going to sign the deal today.
(You said that you would sign the deal today. -> It was agreed that you would sign the deal today)
You agreed to lower your fees. -> It was agreed that you were going to lower your fees.
(You agreed to reduce your rates. -> It was agreed that you would reduce your rates)
Let's also take a look at some expressions and structures you can use in certain situations to sound polite.
Gratitude
(Here are your keys. - Thank you)
Thank you for helping with the report.
(Thanks for your help with the report)
Thank you so much for your advice.
(Thank you for your advice)
Request
In addition to using could And would With please, For example:
Would you close the window, please?
(Could you close the window please?)
Could you give me your phone number, please?
(Could you give me your phone number, please?)
You can use expanded constructs with the if clause:
If it is possible, would you be so kind to look through my papers?
(If possible, would you be so kind as to review my documents?)
If you don't mind, would you please stop smoking?
(If you don't mind, could you please stop smoking?)
Please go and fetch Mr. Stone, if you will.
(Please go and bring Mr. Stone if possible)
Request for permission
The standard way to ask permission is to apply modal verb may:
May I go now, please? (Can I go please?)
You can also use the following:
Do you mind if I watch the news?
(Do you mind if I watch the news?)
Would it be a problem if I watched the news?
(Will it be a problem if I watch the news?)
Indirect questions and statements (indirect questions and statements) are used in English language when we want to be polite. They begin with the following introductory phrases: Can/could you tell me...? Do you have any idea…? Do you know...? I wonder … I don’t know … I’m interested to know … Tell me (please) … Please explain … + special question word or if/whether.
When an ordinary (direct) question is part of a longer sentence beginning with the above introductory phrases, the word order changes. Compare the examples in the table:
| Direct questions in EnglishDirect questions in English | Indirect questions and statements in EnglishIndirect questions and statements in English |
| Where did you go? | Can you tell me where you went? |
| What time is it? | Do you know what time it is? |
| How do I get to the center? | Could you tell me how to get to the center? |
| When does it start? | Do you have any idea when it starts? I don't have any idea when it starts. I have no idea when it starts. |
| Who is going to come? | Do you know who is going to come? I wonder who is going to come. I wonder who's going to come. |
| How much will it cost? | Can you tell me how much it will cost? |
| What does this mean? | Do you know what it means? Please explain what it means. Please explain what this means. |
| Why did you move? | Can you tell me why you moved? I'm interested to know why you moved. I wonder why you moved. |
| What do you do in your spare time? What do you do in your spare time? How do you spend your free time? |
Tell me what are you do in your spare time. Tell me how you spend your free time. Tell me what you do in your free time. |
| Do you have a driving license? | I wonder if you have a driving license. |
| Can you give me a lift? | I wonder if you can give me a lift. |
| Have you ever been to the US? | Can you tell me whether you have ever been to the US? |
That is, indirect questions in English have a direct word order, such as in: after the introductory phrase, the order changes to subject + predicate.
Be careful with questions containing do/does/did! Forms auxiliary verb
do is not used in indirect questions:
How far did they travel? Do you happen to know how far they traveled? Do you happen to know how far did they travel? If not, then use an introductory conjunction. if / whether (=whether)
Using it we enter .
These are the basic rules for constructing indirect questions in English. Read about how to convey questions in indirect speech in the next article. Share a link to the article on self-study
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Niko, sorry for responding late, I’ll try to help you figure it out. The “correct-standard” answer is: What will our friends think if we don’t help him? A typical question begins with a special question word What, and is followed by will. Please note that the comma before if is not used in English if if in the middle of a sentence. Your option 2 is also viable, it's more conversational. Option 1 is without inversion, so there is an error here, this is not an indirect question. In questions we put the auxiliary verb before the subject, . There is not much difference, but in a question it is more typical to start with a Wh-word. Plus, a comma is needed if the sentence begins with if, If if in the middle - no need.
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Thanks for the question, Tatyana. The first sentence is correct: I do not know if anyone loves ice cream. Why? In English there are words that are rarely used in statements, the so-called “non-affirmative” words (“non-affirmative” or “non-assertive” words), for example, any, anyone, anybody, ever and others. In statements we use other words, some and derivatives, somebody... Words with any often used in questions and negatives, in clauses with if, as well as with various parts of speech with a negative meaning, as in your sentence. Compare:
Someone telephoned.
Did anyone telephone?
I don’t know if anyone is telephoned.
To the entry "Indirect questions in English" 4 comments Hello! Please tell me the correct structure interrogative sentence , which is complex sentence
with a subordinate clause, for example:
Option 2 with inversion: If we don’t help him, what will our friends think?
Which option is correct, and will there be any difference depending on the location of the conditional clause in the sentence:
If we don't help him, what will our friends think?
What will our friends think if we don't help him?
Leave your comment
It is difficult for us to judge how polite the Russian nation is considered in the world, however, the fact is that we still have a lot language forms no one doubts politeness. So let's look at how we can demonstrate good manners and our politeness towards each other in everyday speech.
Stable forms of polite communication relate to speech etiquette. Knowledge of the rules of speech etiquette allows a person to behave correctly in society, to be confident in himself and to feel at ease when communicating, demonstrating his politeness and good manners, which is very important for every person who lives in society.
Every people, every nationality has its own historically formed rules of speech etiquette. IN Russian society Such qualities as tact, courtesy, correctness and politeness are undoubtedly valued. In order to be known as just such a person, you need to know what politeness formulas can help with this.
One of the first politeness formulas that we need to become familiar with are the greeting and farewell formulas. In principle, when studying any foreign language, one starts with this. These are some of the most common politeness formulas in the Russian language.
Forms of greeting such as “Good afternoon”, “Good morning”, “Hello”, “My respects”, “Good evening”, “Greetings”, “Let me welcome you”. “Hello” does not express any thoughts, but is an integral part of speech etiquette.
Such set expressions, as a rule, do not have separate significant parts. On the contrary, they express a holistic view of a certain situation. If one day someone responds to your “Good morning!” will answer “It’s not that kind,” then this is just a pun, since the greeting “Good morning!” does not at all express that the morning is actually good. This is just a frozen, stable form of speech etiquette.
Among the greeting formulas, there are those that are not correct and are difficult to classify as speech etiquette. These are mainly familiar or colloquial expressions such as “Great!”, “ZdorOv!”, “Salute,” “Hello.” Such language should be avoided or used only among very close friends or loved ones. These are youth non-literary greetings that can only be used in a relaxed atmosphere, since they are jargon or slang in nature.
The correct forms of farewell in Russian are as follows: “Goodbye!”, “See you soon,” “Have a nice evening!”, “Good night!”, “Farewell,” “Let me take my leave,” “Let me say goodbye,” “See you in the evening.” . They can be used in any situation. Among the farewell formulas, there are also casual slang forms that express a certain familiarity and may not always be used. Among them: “Bye”, “Bay”, “Salute”, “Be there”, “Total!”. When communicating with unfamiliar people, such formulas should never be used.
After a greeting, usually any act of communication begins with an acquaintance, so it is worth knowing what possible acquaintance formulas are available in Russian:
“Let me get to know you,” “Let me introduce myself,” “Let me introduce my friend,” “Let’s get to know each other,” “Let’s get to know each other,” “Let me introduce myself.” My name is".
Formulas for expressing requests include the following: “If it’s not difficult for you, do...”, “Please bring it,” “Do me a favor,” “If it’s not difficult for you...”, “Let me ask you for help,” “Can I ask you?".
Gratitude formulas include: “Allow me to thank you,” “I thank you with all my heart,” “I am very grateful to you for..,” “I am very grateful.” An expression such as “Thank you” is very neutral and can be used in both casual and formal speech.
The invitation formulas can be as follows: “We will be glad to see you at..”, “Let me invite you”, “You will do us a great honor if you come...”, “We invite you to...”.
Invitation formulas: “Allow me to congratulate you,” “Allow me to express my sincere congratulations,” “We sincerely congratulate you,” “We warmly congratulate you.”
Confidently owning speech etiquette, You will always be considered a well-mannered, cultured and polite person. People will be drawn to communicate with you, and your circle of friends and acquaintances will grow quickly.
How polite is a request or encouragement to action in English? Not just politely, but very politely, tactfully, unobtrusively and unobtrusively, a request that gives the opportunity not to do what is being asked? It turns out that simply adding a polite “please” is not always enough. The British rarely make requests straightforwardly, as they say, straight to the forehead. For this, there are workarounds, so to speak, ways of expressing a request, and a typical English polite request sounds like a question, which is understandable. Indeed, in a polite request that sounds like a question, they are asking, in essence, about CONSENT to do what is asked.
Let me give you a few examples in Russian:
Could you please print these letters?
Won't you sit down?
Be so kind as to sit down.
Please come back later, okay?
Please translate this article, okay?
All polite requests are QUESTIONS that are not really questions. Let's call them QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS. A tactful and polite invitation may also be an issue.
There are two options for forming polite questions.
The first option is general issues- requests, which begin with the modal verb CAN in the past tense - COULD and the auxiliary verb of the future indefinite tense (Future Indefinite Tense) in the affirmative “WILL” and the negative form “WON’T”. I advise you to learn this trinity by heart: Could you…? Will you...? Won't you... ?
Could you please type these letters? = Could you print these letters?
Could you help me, please? = Could you help me please?
Won’t you tell me the way to the railway station? = Can you tell me the way to the train station?
Will you ring me up later, please? = Call me later, please.
Won't you move along, please? = Please move forward.
The second option is dividing questions - requests. Then the sentence consists of two parts, the first part is a sentence in the imperative mood, and the second part is interrogative “tails”, that is, truncated questions that consist only of the auxiliary verb “WILL” and the modal verb “CAN”.
Will you? Won't you? Would you? Can you? Can't you? Coudn't you?
The second part, that is, the dividing question itself is translated by the word “PLEASE” or words of agreement = “GOOD”, “Okay”, “YES” by the particles “VED” and “SAME”.
Won’t – used in invitations.
Sit down, won't you? = Please have a seat.
In the negative form of the imperative mood, only – Will is used.
Don’t forget to do it, will you? = Don't forget to do this, okay?
All other interrogative “tails” can be placed in polite requests completely arbitrarily.
Open the window, would you? = Open the window, please.
Answer the question, can’t you? = You can answer the question, right?
Give me a book, will you? = Give me the book, please.
Come tomorrow, can you? = Come tomorrow, okay?
Write down these words in your copy-books, can’t you? = Write these words in your notebook, okay?
I'll write a few important notes.
1. About the subject in the imperative mood.
As already mentioned, there is no subject in sentences in the imperative mood, but sometimes a subject may be present.
a) When anger, rage and irritation, etc. are heard, the subject is “YOU”.
You take your hands off me! = Get your hands off!
You get out! = Get out!
You shut up! = Shut up now!
c) When it is necessary to clarify who is being addressed. It may be a name, but not only that. Let's look at examples.
Nobody move! = Nobody moves!
Everybody stay here! = Everyone stay put!
Somebody answer the phone! = Someone answer the phone!
2. About the adverbs always and never.
Always remember to smile! = Always remember to smile!
Never speak to me like that again! = Don't ever talk to me like that again!
Always have dinner in time! = Always have lunch on time!