Introductory phrase + question word (or "if") + positive sentence. Reasons To Politely Ask for a Reply in a Formal Email. Asking a Quick Question . ______ me, what time does the train leave? Do well to check it out and share. Asking for directions is the first thing we do when we arrive to a different country, or even when we are just trying to find a place. Expression for asking personal question politely [Excuse my asking, but.. For example, if you come up to someone and ask: There is nothing wrong with asking questions in this manner, but to sound more polite, it's very common to add "excuse me" or "pardon me" at the beginning of a question. Knowing how to ask for them can make our life so much easier! They are in fact quite rude. There are even times when you might need to stop a speaker to ask a question that is not related to the topic of conversation. However, we use indirect questions if we want to ask a more personal or formal question. Being polite is an important part of learning how to speak English naturally and there are many ways of making our questions more polite. Asking Questions in Different Ways. Asking for information can be as simple as asking for the time, or as complicated as asking for details about a complicated process.In both cases, it's important to use the appropriate form for the situation. In both countries, questions with "can" are made more polite by using "could:". Don’t make the mistake of saying “I want” when you ask people for things in English. Remember, complete silence makes the other person feel uneasy! We must avoid being too direct. How to ask questions politely using could, would and may How to ask questions politely using could, would and may? Are you working this weekend? How much does that book cost? Introductory Phrase + Question Word/"If"/"Whether" + Subject + Helping Verb + Main Verb? It’s also possible to use ‘can’ in informal situations. JamesESL English Lessons ... Business English - Complaining & Disagreeing Politely and Effectively - Duration: 7:22. Where is the bus stop? Choose from more than 400 teachers to work on your business English or to pass your next big exam. Get our special offer before it runs out! Sign up to join this community. Instead of telling people to help you with tasks, you can turn your statement into a question. Especially since English doesn’t have a formal “you” form like many other languages. . Basic Conversations for English Language Learners, English as a Second Language (ESL) Expert, Key Words That Make Direct Questions More Polite, Asking Indirect Questions to Be Especially Polite, Workplace Communication Skills for ESL Learners, Rhetorical Questions for English Learners, Ask Questions in English Class to Help You Learn, Phrases for Performing Well in Business Meetings, ESL: How to Ask for, Grant and Refuse Permission, Giving and Requesting Personal Information, Check Your Knowledge: Basic English Questions, Check Your Knowledge: Introductions and Greetings, Check Your Knowledge: "How Much" and "How Many", Check Your Knowledge: Eating at a Restaurant, Check Your Knowledge: Going to the Doctor, M.A., Music Performance, Cologne University of Music, B.A., Vocal Performance, Eastman School of Music. etc.] - English Only forum had politely done - English Only forum He was not speaking politely so I have just hung up the phone on him - English Only forum how can I express my meaning politely and correctly? Paul Randal August 11, 2014 This post is a much-expanded version of the editorial in my last bi-weekly SQLskills Insider newsletter, including a bunch of the feedback I got. … (Also see my corollary post How to answer questions politely and correctly.) Consider the following important points carefully. So you might wonder, how should you ask your boss for a day off? Here are some more examples in different contexts with different tenses.Can you give me a hand with these … What time is it? These are not polite requests. Direct questions are fine when you are talking to your friends or family. Using an indirect question is one great way to do this. You ask for something, then the person you have asked needs more information. They ask the same as direct questions but are considered more formal. Have you ever wondered how you can politely ask a question in English? When using an indirect question, use an introductory phrase followed by the question itself in positive sentence structure. Each of these three question types can be used politely, but certain indirect forms are more formal and polite than other types of questions. Cambridge University publishes English teaching materials with the phrase "Can you lend me," "Can I have," etc. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Notice that indirect questions begin with a phrase ("I wonder," "Do you think," "Would you mind," etc.). So you might wonder, how should you ask your boss for a day off? All we do is replace CAN with COULD. etc.] NOTE: If you are asking a "yes-no" question, use "if" to connect the introductory phrase with the actual question statement. I wonder ______ you like chocolate or not. Question tags turn statements into questions. Instead of: Finish the presentation. - English Only forum How to ask someone politely to send me something a.s.a.p. Get a native English teacher online in seconds at italki. English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. Write down five open and five closed direct questions. Depending on the intonation of the voice, they are used to verify information that we think is correct or to ask for more information. I promise to keep it brief. For example, when asking for information from a friend, use a more informal or colloquial form. Which would be a direct way of asking a question and can be interpreted as being rude or arrogant. Since we are asking someone for help, it is important to be polite. Indirect questions always begin with an introductory phrase and unlike direct questions, they do not invert the subject. They won't attend this class, _____ they? Your email address will not be published. Direct questions can seem abrupt or even impolite at times, especially when asked by a stranger. Forming Questions The use of question words and how to ask questions in English. If the voice drops, someone is confirming information that is known. For example: In informal situations, one could use the word "can" in a direct sentence. Where are you? Next, provide a missing word to fill in the gap to complete the question. - English Only forum had politely done - English Only forum He was not speaking politely so I have just hung up the phone on him - English Only forum how can I express my meaning politely and correctly? What you can do is, simply say: Simply say: Could you please spell your name? Asking to do things – asking for permission. Ask Question … How should you ask a stranger where the nearest bus stop is? Expression for asking personal question politely [Excuse my asking, but.. How should you ask a stranger where the nearest bus stop is? Using an indirect question is one great way to do this. Asking questions in English – indirect questions Indirect questions are also used to try to get information. or information questions such as "Where do you live?" The way we ask for directions may affect the answer we get. direct, indirect, or question tag). To learn more about how to ask polite questions, and use each form … But in order to make questions more polite, change “can” to “could” and you sound like a “native”! English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. This may sound awkward but it is true. There are many different ways of making polite requests in English. Do you mind repeating that? Are we done? Start studying How to Politely Ask a Favor in English. Can you spell your name? It only takes a minute to sign up. Direct questions place the helping verb before the subject of the question: (Question word) + Helping Verb + Subject + Verb + Objects ? Could You Possibly/Is There Any Way You Could The difference between practice and practise, “a little” and “a few ” to describe quantity, Difference between “finally”, “at last”, “lastly” and “in the end”, Maths symbols and operations – English vocabulary, BACK as a noun, verb, adjective and adverb, IELTS complete guide (WITH EXAMPLE QUESTIONS). Make sure that you’re giving the other person the chance to say no. Who - asking for a person and animal: object: do, does, did. It is usually used with "I," and sometimes "we.". Excuse me, do you know _____ the next show begins. How to ask questions politely and correctly. Sign up to join this community. “Can you show me,” “Can I have,” “Can I sit”, etc. I use this expression all the time.Can you give me a hand for a minute? Do you know how long Mark _____ been working for that company? Instead of saying to someone: Can you spell your name? Jane opened the door.Who opened the door? When you ask a direct question, you ask directly, or simply, for exactly what you need. He or she asks you a question. This is another really common way to ask for help in English. One form to avoid when asking for things is the imperative form. My schedule is wide open all day Thursday and Friday if you have availability then. Subject + Helping verb + Objects + , + Opposite Helping Verb + Subject? Saying "May I have" instead of "Can I have" is preferred in the U.S. Even if you need something done right away, making it a question will make the other person more willing to help. They are examples of formal English. We can understand question tags as having two parts separated by a comma. They greet their teacher.Who do they greet? Privacy Policy. There are three types of questions in English: direct, indirect, and question tags. How to Ask Politely. To help you do that, I want to share essential tips and common phrases we use in English. - English Only forum How to ask someone politely to send me something a.s.a.p. And they are also … Usually it’s used when what you’re asking doesn’t require a huge amount of effort from the person that you’re asking for help. Kenneth Beare is an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher and course developer with over three decades of teaching experience. Saying "Give me that" (imperative) instead of "Could you give me that" (indirect) puts you at risk of sounding rude. Indirect questions request the same information as direct questions, but they are considered more formal. In this spoken English lesson, you will learn several methods to make polite requests and ask questions. If the voice goes up at the end of the sentence, the person is asking for more information. Are you looking for a professional, native English teacher online? The second part uses the opposite form of the helping verb followed by the same subject ("Hasn't she"). Saying "Give me that" (imperative) instead of "Could you give me that" (indirect) puts you at risk of sounding rude. Sometimes it is necessary to pause a conversation to ask a clarifying question. This makes you look rude, and they will be less likely to want to help you! Could you lend me a hand?It’s a casual, relaxed way to ask for help. Indirect questions are more polite than direct questions. In the video below, you can also check out ways to reply when people ask you what you want. It only takes a minute to sign up. When you ask somebody like that in a direct manner. Use the three part formula to change them into indirect questions When you finish, check that the final part … Using indirect question forms is especially polite. Direct questions ask for information immediately without including extra language such as "I wonder" or "Can you tell me.". How to Politely Ask Someone to Repeat Something in english; Would you mind repeating that? English Grammar - How to ask questions - Duration: 19:03. Saying "Give me that" (imperative) instead of "Could you give me that" (indirect) puts you at risk of sounding rude. I’m a longtime admirer of your work and have the greatest respect for your filmmaking expertise. "Would" can also be used to make questions more polite: Another way of making direct questions more polite is to add "please" at the end of the question. Excuse me? Anybody can ask a question Anybody can answer The best answers are voted up and rise to the top Home ; Questions ; Tags ; Users ; Unanswered ; How do I ask a question politely? Please should not appear at the beginning of the question: "May" is used as a formal means to ask for permission and is very polite. Would you be game for a 15–20 minute phone call next week? Say something like “Oh”, “Ah”, “Um”, or “Er” to give you a second or two to formulate an answer. People will be offended because they will … Ask a question or clarify something; Join a conversation or express your opinion on the topic; The key is knowing how to interrupt someone politely. A request is when we ask someone for something. To learn more about how to ask polite questions, and use each form correctly, check out the overview below. One form to avoid when asking for things is the imperative form. Can I use your phone? Anybody can ask a question Anybody can answer The best answers are voted up and rise to the top Home Questions Tags Users Unanswered Politely ask someone not to do something. Direct and indirect questions are used to ask for information you do not know, while question tags are generally used to clarify or confirm the information you think you know. Where’s the bathroom? Connect the two phrases with the question word or 'if' in the case the question is a yes/no question. To form an indirect question, use an introductory phrase followed by question words for information questions, and "if" or "whether" for yes/no questions. No matter what the situation, these short phrases allow for brief questions during a conversation. There are several reasons your recipient might delay in replying your email or neglect your email totally, forcing you to deliberately ask for a reply in a formal email. Your Relationship with the Recipient . Direct questions are either yes/no questions such as "Are you married?" Requests - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary If you don't want to sound rude when speaking English, then you need to know how to make a request in a polite way.Requests in English are usually made in the form of questions In the United States, "can" is considered to be incorrect for written English in particular because, in the past, it was not a word used when asking for something. Not to worry, I have addressed this in a post titled, How to Answer Tag Questions. Lindsay and Michelle recommend italki as our #1 English-learning solution online. Using questionsmakes you sound nicer and more considerate (thoughtful and nice). So, even if your English is at a beginner’s level, using these simple words can help you sound more polite. Have you ever wondered how you can politely ask a question in English? Each of these three question types can be used politely, but certain indirect forms are more formal and polite than other types of questions. When we want to be more polite we often use indirect question forms. Otherwise, use a question word "where, when, why, or how" to connect the two phrases. Indirect questions can start with introductory phrases such as these: Can you tell me . Excuse me, _____ you help me with my homework? . How to ask questions politely using could, would and may. Each of these three question types can be used politely, but certain indirect forms are more formal and polite than other types of questions. Instead, here are some better, more polite ways to ask for things. Say: Can you finish the presentation? First, identify which type of question is asked (i.e. One form to avoid when asking for things is the imperative form. If you haven’t expected this, you can “play for time” – say something to give you time to think. The first part uses the subject followed by a helping verb as used in direct questions ("Has she"). Who - asking for a person and animal: subject: no do, does, did. Pardon? Especially since English doesn’t have a formal “you” form like many other languages. Tom helped in the garden.Who helped in the garden? Luckily, Canadians are … Continue reading "10 Tips on How to Ask for Directions in English" Daily grammar lesson with Elo Kasia. I would love to ask you a few questions about how you financed your first film. In the United Kingdom, the word is not frowned upon. The questions ‘do you mind’ or ‘do you care’ usually cause a lot of confusion for many English as a Second language users. Here are examples of being too direct: “I want help.” “Pass me the salt.” “Can you carry my bag?” These questions are all correct English but they are too direct. Sorry. Mistake of saying to someone: can you tell me. `` phrases allow brief... '' Whether '' + subject they will … instead of telling people to help you tasks. Questions can seem abrupt or even impolite at times, especially when asked by a stranger where the bus. For help in English etymologists, and they will be offended because they will be less likely to to... Silence makes the other how to ask questions in english politely more willing to help you `` could: '' you are talking to friends! Tag questions questions during a conversation situation, these short phrases allow for questions... 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( i.e considered more formal schedule is wide open all day Thursday Friday... Ask directly, or how '' to connect the two phrases questions request the same information as direct (... Many different ways of making our questions more polite by using `` could: '' personal question politely Excuse... English or to pass your next big exam we. `` you sound more.... '' to connect the two phrases a stranger where the nearest bus stop is ( thoughtful and )!
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