In learning any language, the most important thing is to master spoken language. This is necessary in order to be able to start any conversation on foreign language and not to get lost in various conversational situations. And here English polite phrases and words will help us. After all, our treatment of the interlocutor must be kind in order to make a favorable impression on him.
Expression of politeness and respect in English speechExpression of politeness, courtesy and respect in English language very important. Certain phrases will help us start a conversation, say hello, express refusal or consent, regret or joy, ask for help, apologize, say goodbye, wish good luck in English.
Expressions of politeness in English, as in any other language, are usually used when meeting and parting, at the beginning of a telephone conversation and at its end. It is necessary to be careful and distinguish between communication with a peer and with a person older than you, with a friend and with a stranger, since you cannot say to an elderly person “ Hey! Hey Hello!", but " Hello! How do you do, Good day!". Also, when we say goodbye to an elderly person, we do not say “ Bye, see you soon. Bye", but " Goodbye. good bye».
So, here are the basic expressions of a polite greeting and goodbye in English. These expressions will help you say hello, start a conversation, and at the end of it say goodbye to the interlocutor:
- good morning! - Good morning!
- Good day/evening! — Good afternoon/evening!
- Nice to meet you! - Glad to meet you
- Hello! Hi! - Hey!
- How are you today? - How are you today? How are you doing?
- Glad to see you! - Glad to see you!
- Welcome! - Welcome!
- Goodbye! - Goodbye!
- good night! - Goodnight!
- Have a nice day! - Wish you have a good day!
- see you! - See you!
- See you soon! - See you soon!
- see you later! - See you later!
- Bye-bye! - Till!
Expressions to help you get to know each other
These courtesy phrases in English are designed for getting to know each other, with their help you can introduce yourself, give your name, introduce your friend, colleague, etc.
- What is your name? - What is your name? My name is ... - My name is ...
- Nice to meet you! - Glad to see you!
- Nice to meet you, too. - I'm glad to see you too.
- Let me introduce my friend, my colleague ... - Let me introduce my friend, colleague ...
- This is my friend ... - This is my friend ...
How to politely thank and respond to gratitude?
Gratitude is also an expression of respect in any language of the world. As you understand, these polite expressions express gratitude, as well as what should be answered if you were thanked:
- thank you! - Thanks. Thank you
- Thank you very much! - Thanks a lot
- Thank you ever so much! - Thanks a lot
- Thanks a lot! - Thanks a lot
- Be welcome. - You are welcome. Please contact again
- You are welcome. - You are welcome
- It's my pleasure. - With pleasure
- Not at all. - It's my pleasure.
Here we should pay attention to the word " Please". This word in English is not an answer to gratitude, although it is translated as "Please." It is used when you want to make a request.
For example:
- Please help me! - Please help me!
- Please give me your pencil. - Please give me your pencil.
How to ask for forgiveness in English?
These courtesy expressions will help you apologize and ask for forgiveness or express regret in a given situation:
- Pardon! - I'm sorry, I'm sorry
- Sorry! - Sorry
- I'm sorry! - I'm really sorry.
But one should not confuse the expression " Sorry!" and " Excuse me!". The phrase "Excuse me!" used when you want to ask about something, clarify something, etc.
For example:
- Sorry, I can't come to you. - Excuse me, I can come to you.
- Excuse me, where is the post office. — Excuse me, where is the post office?
If you need to ask or ask for help
- Can I ask you? — May I ask you?
- Could you help me? - Could you please help me?
- May I ask you for a help? - Can I ask you for help?
- Can I help you? - Can I help you?
- Could you do me a favor? "Will you do me a favor?"
- Please! - You are welcome!
- What can I do for you? - How can I help you?
What happened?!
Expressions of politeness that help us ask a question about what happened. They reflect our emotions of surprise, bewilderment, surprise about the situation that happened:
- What's the matter? - What happened?
- What's up/ going on? - What's the matter / What's going on?
- What's the trouble/happening? - What is the problem / What is happening?
Polite phrases of reassurance and encouragement
Such phrases and speech constructions will come in handy for expressing politeness if you want to cheer up, reassure, reassure someone, etc.
- Don't take it to heart. - Take it easy
- Take it easy - Don't worry, take it easy
- Never mind - Don't worry
- Forget it - Forget it, do not pay attention.
good wishes phrases
Such expressions of politeness serve to wish a good day, a pleasant rest, a good weekend, etc. You can also compliment the interlocutor on this or that occasion:
- Have a nice day! - Have a nice day!
- Have a good vacation! - Have a good vacation (vacation) to you!
- Have a nice holiday! - Happy holiday!
- good luck! - Good luck!
- I wish you a good week! - I wish you a good week!
- You are very beautiful today! You are very beautiful today!
- You look great! - You look wonderful!
- This dress fits you very well! This dress really suits you!
There are many more such polite phrases in the English language. We examined the most basic and most versatile designs that are used everywhere. It is very important to pronounce these phrases kindly, with a smile, in a friendly voice. And then the interlocutor will definitely respond to your request or question. We wish you good luck!
Various answers to thanks and apologies in English.
How would you please in English?
Hello! This article focuses on a very useful and popular word that we often use in conversation. word "please". Let's see how you can say please in English in response to people's gratitude. Indeed, in Russia we often use words such as: please, nothing, no thanks, contact at any time, always happy, etc. You can find a list of similar phrases in English below.
If you are making a request.
Well, first of all, if you turn to someone with a request or for help, then there is only one "magic" word in the English language. And I'm sure you know him. Word - "please" please.
Could you please do me a favor?
(Please, could you do me a favor?)
Could you please tell me where can I find Ann?
(Please, could you tell me where I can find Anna?)
Could you please help me?
(Please, could you help me?)
In response to thanks and apologies.
If someone thanks you, then, as noted above, in Russia we often say: please, no way, etc. Let's see what phrases English speakers usually use in their speech:
1) The first and most popular phrase - you are welcome please.
— Thank you for it!
(Thank you for that!)
- You're welcome!
(You are welcome!)
2) The second good phrase is - not at all you're welcome. This phrase is also used in response to an apology. For example:
— It's so kind of you! Thank you very much!
(You are so kind! Thank you very much!)
(It's my pleasure)
- Oh I'm sorry, my fault!
(I'm sorry, I'm sorry!
3) The third option, which also means “nothing, not worth thanks” or is used to respond to an apology - don't mention it .
— I'm sorry!
(I apologize!)
— Don't mention it. It's ok.
(Do not worry, it's ok)
Thank you for your help.
(Thanks for your help)
— Don't mention it.
(Nothing, no way)
4) Next cool phrase - it's a pleasure always happy, I'm only happy, etc.
Thank you my friend!
(Thanks buddy!)
— It's a pleasure!
(Always happy!)
5) If you want to say “no problem”, then there is a simple phrase - no problem.
Thanks for your coming.
(Thanks for coming)
(No problems)
6) And finally, the last good answer to gratitude - anytime Always happy to contact you anytime.
— Thank you so much!
(Thanks a lot)
(Contact anytime)
That's it. These were the main options to say “please, nothing at all, always happy, nothing to worry about” in response to gratitude or apology in English. I hope they expand your
Keep learning English and take care of yourself!
Speaking in English, you often need to resort to requests. They can be different: we ask for a serious favor, a trifling favor, most often the requests are small and we do not expect them to be refused (“Could you 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, 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 referring to an unfamiliar man.
- Ma'am(ma'am, ma'am - short for madam) - when referring to an unfamiliar woman.
- Miss(miss) - when referring to an unfamiliar young woman.
request-order
When we ask the interlocutor for something, we say it in the form of a persuasive sentence. Its main element (sometimes the only one) is . However, by itself, without politeness formulas, the incentive sentence sounds like an order, a command, and not a request:
Pass me some butter. - Pass me some oil.
Don't tell my parents about it. Don't tell my parents about this.
stand up. - Get up.
Wake your cat up. - Wake up your cat.
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, 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 the sentence:
- could you please?
- Would you+ incentive offer + please?
- Can you+ incentive offer + please?
The part that is marked as “incentive sentence” begins with (without the to particle). 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 - do not help
- not tell - do not speak
Note: in all variants, the word please can be placed after “you”, for example: “Could you help me, please?”
We will return to the differences between these three formulas a little later, first we will consider examples with “could you”. Here could you translates as "could you ...", the word please may be omitted in translation into Russian if it is not appropriate. The sentence becomes interrogative and is pronounced with an interrogative intonation.
Could you please, pass me some butter? “Could you pass me some butter?”
could you don't tell my parents about it, please? “Could you 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 denial (about parents). The negation is expressed with not, no “don’t” needs to be added here:
- Correctly: Could you please not do what?
- Not right: Could you please don't do what?
Now 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 you pass me some butter, please?
Can you stand up, please?
These options can be translated into Russian in the same way as those from could you:“Could you…” But there is a difference between them, albeit a small one. It can be easy to explain, but it can be difficult.
Without going into details,
- Could you, would you- the formulas of a polite request, there is no difference in the sense or degree of politeness between them.
- Can you- the formula of 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 oil?”
If we dig a little deeper, then:
- Saying " Can you pass me some butter, please?”, we ask the interlocutor if he has physical ability transfer oil. It is clear that we ask not just like that, 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 butter?” “Could you pass the butter?”
- Question " Would you pass me some butter, please?” refers not to the possibility, but the desire of the interlocutor to pass the oil. Like, “Would you pass me the butter, please?”
On practice these differences are not significant in small requests: apply oil, open a 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 influenced by intonation.
The difference in questions from would you and could you is more noticeable when it is not about a petty 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 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 the question with, and not 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 not smoke?
Note: there is a similar turnover “Do (would) you mind if I…” - it is used not as a request to do something, but to get permission, we will return to it a little later.
Asking for a favor or help
You can ask for a service, usually larger than a chair, or help using expressions:
- Could you do me a favour?– Could you do me a favor?
With this question, you can turn to a friend, and to a colleague, and to an unfamiliar person. Example:
– Excuse me, could you do me a favour?- Could 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 be used in a slightly different way, 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)?- Won't you help me out?
Please help in something, help out. Usually this is 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. - Won't you help me out tomorrow? I need to move my stuff and my car is too small for that.
“Can you help me out WITH” will mean "help out, help with something":
Can you help me out with my homework? - Won't you help me with my homework?
- Can you give me a hand (with something)?- Can you help me?
It usually 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 but in other words:
Can you give me a hand with this box? Can you help me with this box?
In the same meaning, you can use “help me out”:
Can you help me out with this box?
- I'd like- I would like
Requests from “I'd like” usually addressed to service workers, service personnel. For example, an order is usually made using this expression.
Note: after “would like” is used with the to particle.
Hi, I would like to order a pizza. Hello, I would like to order a 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 proposals, the essence of which is that we ask the interlocutor to do something, but also issues that are intended to be resolved. In other words, asking for 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? - May I ask you a question?
Can I help you? - May I assist you?
Strictly speaking, in such a question it means a physical possibility, and a permission, but in ordinary everyday speech these distinctions are so blurred that there is absolutely no difference how to ask permission, “Can I go?” and “May I go?” do not differ in meaning. However, the option with may more appropriate in a strict formal setting.
For example, the host of an event 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- "May I…"
Of particular note is the request: Can I have… (May I have). It is used when we want to receive something, we ask for something to be given to us:
Can I have 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 have 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…” are analogous to our “It’s okay if I… (do something)”. So 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 for 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 not.
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 is: “Don’t you mind if”, that is, literally “Do you mind if”. There is no difference between them, just the second one is a little more delicate, the speaker, as it were, admits 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 does not 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 quite 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 is more likely to be in a more polite form, for example: “Oh, sorry but I have a cold” (sorry, but I have a cold).
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