Each of these three question types can be used politely, but certain indirect forms are more formal and polite than other types of questions. They are examples of formal English. etc.] It’s also possible to use ‘can’ in informal situations. I would love to ask you a few questions about how you financed your first film. ______ me, what time does the train leave? Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Requests - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary Say something like “Oh”, “Ah”, “Um”, or “Er” to give you a second or two to formulate an answer. How to ask questions politely using could, would and may. Subject + Helping verb + Objects + , + Opposite Helping Verb + Subject? They ask the same as direct questions but are considered more formal. Each of these three question types can be used politely, but certain indirect forms are more formal and polite than other types of questions. They won't attend this class, _____ they? Make sure that you’re giving the other person the chance to say no. . Jane opened the door.Who opened the door? This makes you look rude, and they will be less likely to want to help you! How much does that book cost? Asking to do things – asking for permission. Asking a Quick Question . Have you ever wondered how you can politely ask a question in English? Sometimes it is necessary to pause a conversation to ask a clarifying question. How to ask questions politely and correctly. Can you spell your name? If the voice drops, someone is confirming information that is known. To learn more about how to ask polite questions, and use each form correctly, check out the overview below. What you can do is, simply say: Simply say: Could you please spell your name? In this spoken English lesson, you will learn several methods to make polite requests and ask questions. What time is it? The questions ‘do you mind’ or ‘do you care’ usually cause a lot of confusion for many English as a Second language users. … Connect the two phrases with the question word or 'if' in the case the question is a yes/no question. Using an indirect question is one great way to do this. Forming Questions The use of question words and how to ask questions in English. First, identify which type of question is asked (i.e. It only takes a minute to sign up. One form to avoid when asking for things is the imperative form. Daily grammar lesson with Elo Kasia. Write down five open and five closed direct questions. So, even if your English is at a beginner’s level, using these simple words can help you sound more polite. These are not polite requests. I wonder ______ you like chocolate or not. He or she asks you a question. Pardon? Not to worry, I have addressed this in a post titled, How to Answer Tag Questions. How to ask questions politely using could, would and may How to ask questions politely using could, would and may? 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. Sign up to join this community. or information questions such as "Where do you live?" We must avoid being too direct. One form to avoid when asking for things is the imperative form. Would you be game for a 15–20 minute phone call next week? Using an indirect question is one great way to do this. We can understand question tags as having two parts separated by a comma. Indirect questions request the same information as direct questions, but they are considered more formal. 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. 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. Say: Can you finish the presentation? Instead of saying to someone: Can you spell your name? No matter what the situation, these short phrases allow for brief questions during a conversation. - English Only forum How to ask someone politely to send me something a.s.a.p. Notice that indirect questions begin with a phrase ("I wonder," "Do you think," "Would you mind," etc.). However, we use indirect questions if we want to ask a more personal or formal question. Where is the bus stop? Direct questions are fine when you are talking to your friends or family. - English Only forum How to ask someone politely to send me something a.s.a.p. Using indirect question forms is especially polite. Since we are asking someone for help, it is important to be polite. Who - asking for a person and animal: object: do, does, did. Are we done? If you haven’t expected this, you can “play for time” – say something to give you time to think. NOTE: If you are asking a "yes-no" question, use "if" to connect the introductory phrase with the actual question statement. And they are also … Can I use your phone? Asking Questions in Different Ways. - 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? Asking questions in English – indirect questions Indirect questions are also used to try to get information. Here are some more examples in different contexts with different tenses.Can you give me a hand with these … There are many different ways of making polite requests in English. All we do is replace CAN with COULD. Lindsay and Michelle recommend italki as our #1 English-learning solution online. . How to Ask Politely. 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. When using an indirect question, use an introductory phrase followed by the question itself in positive sentence structure. Reasons To Politely Ask for a Reply in a Formal Email. The way we ask for directions may affect the answer we get. There are three types of questions in English: direct, indirect, and question tags. Being polite is an important part of learning how to speak English naturally and there are many ways of making our questions more polite. Next, provide a missing word to fill in the gap to complete the question. Privacy Policy. Using questionsmakes you sound nicer and more considerate (thoughtful and nice). 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. Could you lend me a hand?It’s a casual, relaxed way to ask for help. Direct questions can seem abrupt or even impolite at times, especially when asked by a stranger. Even if you need something done right away, making it a question will make the other person more willing to help. Especially since English doesn’t have a formal “you” form like many other languages. You ask for something, then the person you have asked needs more information. How should you ask a stranger where the nearest bus stop is? Get a native English teacher online in seconds at italki. Saying "Give me that" (imperative) instead of "Could you give me that" (indirect) puts you at risk of sounding rude. I promise to keep it brief. I’m a longtime admirer of your work and have the greatest respect for your filmmaking expertise. One form to avoid when asking for things is the imperative form. Remember, complete silence makes the other person feel uneasy! Instead of telling people to help you with tasks, you can turn your statement into a 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. Each of these three question types can be used politely, but certain indirect forms are more formal and polite than other types of questions. It is usually used with "I," and sometimes "we.". In both countries, questions with "can" are made more polite by using "could:". Luckily, Canadians are … Continue reading "10 Tips on How to Ask for Directions in English" Especially since English doesn’t have a formal “you” form like many other languages. When you ask a direct question, you ask directly, or simply, for exactly what you need. Direct questions ask for information immediately without including extra language such as "I wonder" or "Can you tell me.". Start studying How to Politely Ask a Favor in English. Indirect questions always begin with an introductory phrase and unlike direct questions, they do not invert the subject. I use this expression all the time.Can you give me a hand for a minute? How should you ask a stranger where the nearest bus stop is? Knowing how to ask for them can make our life so much easier! "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. My schedule is wide open all day Thursday and Friday if you have availability then. In the video below, you can also check out ways to reply when people ask you what you want. English Language & Usage Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for linguists, etymologists, and serious English language enthusiasts. Indirect questions are more polite than direct questions. 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 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? In the United Kingdom, the word is not frowned upon. Who - asking for a person and animal: subject: no do, does, did. For example, when asking for information from a friend, use a more informal or colloquial form. For example: In informal situations, one could use the word "can" in a direct sentence. Are you looking for a professional, native English teacher online? Get our special offer before it runs out! Your email address will not be published. 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. Introductory Phrase + Question Word/"If"/"Whether" + Subject + Helping Verb + Main Verb? Consider the following important points carefully. When we want to be more polite we often use indirect question forms. Don’t make the mistake of saying “I want” when you ask people for things in English. Excuse me, _____ you help me with my homework? Depending on the intonation of the voice, they are used to verify information that we think is correct or to ask for more information. The first part uses the subject followed by a helping verb as used in direct questions ("Has she"). So you might wonder, how should you ask your boss for a day off? Indirect questions can start with introductory phrases such as these: Can you tell me . 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. Your Relationship with the Recipient . When you ask somebody like that in a direct manner. Where’s the bathroom? If the voice goes up at the end of the sentence, the person is asking for more information. Tom helped in the garden.Who helped in the garden? To help you do that, I want to share essential tips and common phrases we use in English. Are you working this weekend? Introductory phrase + question word (or "if") + positive sentence. 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. Direct questions are either yes/no questions such as "Are you married?" Expression for asking personal question politely [Excuse my asking, but.. Instead, here are some better, more polite ways to ask for things. Excuse me, do you know _____ the next show begins. People will be offended because they will … Direct questions place the helping verb before the subject of the question: (Question word) + Helping Verb + Subject + Verb + Objects ? To learn more about how to ask polite questions, and use each form … 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. 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. (Also see my corollary post How to answer questions politely and correctly.) 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. Have you ever wondered how you can politely ask a question in English? 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). JamesESL English Lessons ... Business English - Complaining & Disagreeing Politely and Effectively - Duration: 7:22. 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. etc.] Saying "Give me that" (imperative) instead of "Could you give me that" (indirect) puts you at risk of sounding rude. Cambridge University publishes English teaching materials with the phrase "Can you lend me," "Can I have," etc. Where are you? English Grammar - How to ask questions - Duration: 19:03. Do you know how long Mark _____ been working for that company? Which would be a direct way of asking a question and can be interpreted as being rude or arrogant. Instead of: Finish the presentation. Sign up to join this community. Excuse me? Ask Question … Do you mind repeating that? Choose from more than 400 teachers to work on your business English or to pass your next big exam. It only takes a minute to sign up. This is another really common way to ask for help in English. Expression for asking personal question politely [Excuse my asking, but.. Sorry. direct, indirect, or question tag). 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. So you might wonder, how should you ask your boss for a day off? The second part uses the opposite form of the helping verb followed by the same subject ("Hasn't she"). Could You Possibly/Is There Any Way You Could How to Politely Ask Someone to Repeat Something in english; Would you mind repeating that? They are in fact quite rude. Question tags turn statements into questions. - 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? They greet their teacher.Who do they greet? Otherwise, use a question word "where, when, why, or how" to connect the two phrases. 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. Do well to check it out and share. 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. 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. Use the three part formula to change them into indirect questions When you finish, check that the final part … A request is when we ask someone for something. But in order to make questions more polite, change “can” to “could” and you sound like a “native”! “Can you show me,” “Can I have,” “Can I sit”, etc. Saying "May I have" instead of "Can I have" is preferred in the U.S. If you have asked needs more information ask directly, or simply, for exactly what want! Materials with the phrase `` can you spell your name we are asking someone for in. + Main Verb a person and animal: subject: no do,,. Uses the subject a formal “ you ” form like many other languages would and may how to for... 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Questions the use of question words and how to ask for something, then the person you have needs... Polite is an English as a second Language ( ESL ) teacher and developer... # 1 English-learning solution online you want - English Only forum how to ask someone politely to me... Are asking someone for something, then the person is asking for a day off can is! Usage Stack Exchange is a question in English “ can I sit ”,.... Example: in informal situations wonder, how should you ask somebody like that in a direct question, an! You lend me, what time does the train leave, etc or arrogant and five closed direct questions they! Requests in English your statement into a question and answer site for linguists,,! Sit ”, etc we are asking someone for help in English wonder '' or `` ''.