Make Questions Sound Polite

Say each direct question in a softer way for a stranger or service worker.

Polite starter	Use it for…
Could you tell me…?	asking for information
Could I…?	asking for permission or an object
Would you mind…?	asking someone to do something
I was wondering if…	a soft, formal request

First, unscramble these useful words. 🔤

could (a polite word for requests)
mind (used in “Would you ___...?”)
wondering (thinking politely about a question)
possible (able to happen or be done)
reception (the hotel service desk)
tourist (a visitor on holiday)
station (a place for trains or buses)
vegetarian (a person who does not eat meat)

Now make these questions polite. Say your answer aloud.

Where is the bank?
What time does the museum open?
Is the station near here?
Where can I buy tickets?
Does this bus go to the airport?
What is the Wi-Fi password?
Is there a restaurant nearby?
When does the shop close?

Build Polite Questions

Notice the pattern

Direct question	Polite indirect question
Where is the bank?	Could you tell me where the bank is?
Is the café open?	Could you tell me if the café is open?

Pattern: polite starter + question word / if + subject + verb.

Request	Form
Ask for a map	Could I have a map?
Ask someone to speak slowly	Would you mind speaking slowly?
Make a formal request	I was wondering if you could help me.

Connect each situation with the best request

Choose the most suitable sentence for each situation.

Connect each situation with the most polite request

At hotel reception, you need a city map.: Could I have a map, please?
You cannot understand the receptionist.: Would you mind speaking slowly?
You need directions to the tourist office.: Could you tell me where the tourist office is?
You are writing to a hotel.: I was wondering if you could help me.

Put the conversation in order

Arrange this short hotel conversation from first to last.

Put the hotel conversation in the correct order

Tourist: Excuse me. Could you tell me where the reception is?
Receptionist: It is on the ground floor, next to the entrance.
Tourist: Thank you. Could I have a map, please?
Receptionist: Of course. Here you are.

Complete the polite questions

Use the word in brackets to complete each sentence.

Could you tell me where the train station [___] ?
I was wondering if the tourist office [___] open on Sundays.
Would you mind [___] slowly, please?
Could I [___] a map, please?

Put the travel plans in order

Arrange the steps in this polite exchange.

Put the travel conversation in the correct order

Visitor: Could you tell me if this bus goes to the airport?
Driver: Yes, it does. The airport is the final stop.
Visitor: Thank you. Would you mind telling me the ticket price?
Driver: Certainly. It is five pounds.

Choose a suitable phrase for each place

Connect each place with a polite question or request.

Connect each place with the best sentence

At a restaurant, you need food information.: Could you tell me if this dish is vegetarian?
At a train station, you need information.: Could you tell me where platform six is?
At a shop, you want to pay by card.: Could I pay by card, please?
At an office, you need an appointment time.: I was wondering if you have an appointment tomorrow.

At the Hotel Reception

Listen for places, times, and polite requests.

Where is the tourist office?
Until what time is it open?
What does Sofia offer to write on?
What food information does Daniel ask about?

Choose the Right Polite Question

Choose one need: a menu, vegetarian food, a table, or the price.

How would you politely ask the waiter?
Which phrase is best: Could I…?, Would you mind…?, or Could you tell me…?
Is this a formal or friendly service situation?

Choose one need: directions, the nearest station, a map, or opening hours.

How would you politely ask the passer-by?
How would your question change if you asked a receptionist instead?
Make one direct question softer.

Tourist Help Role-Play

Role: You are a tourist. Your teacher is a local helper.

Use at least:

two indirect questions
two polite requests

Scene 1: At the train station

Ask about:

the platform
a ticket
the next train

Scene 2: At the restaurant

Ask about:

a table
vegetarian food
the menu

Scene 3: In a shop

Ask about:

the price
card payment
help with a product

Useful language

Could you tell me where…?
Could you tell me if…?
Could I have…?
Would you mind helping me?
I was wondering if…
Thank you for your help.
Sorry, could you repeat that, please?

Speaking sequence

Greet the person.
Ask for information.
Make a polite request.
Ask one follow-up question.
Say thank you.

Write a Formal Email

Write an email to a hotel or tourist office. Write 50–100 words.

Ask about a room, opening hours, transport, or a local service. Include all three phrases:

I was wondering if…
Could you tell me…?
Would it be possible to…?

Email plan

Greeting
Reason for writing
Three polite questions or requests
Closing

Useful phrases

Beginning	Ending
Dear Sir or Madam,	Kind regards,
I am writing to ask about…	Thank you for your help.
I was wondering if…	I look forward to your reply.
Could you tell me…?

Check before sending:

Is the word order correct after Could you tell me where…?
Did you use all three required phrases?
Is your style polite and formal?

Key Politeness Patterns

Purpose	Useful form
Ask for information with a question word	Could you tell me + wh-word + subject + verb?
Ask for yes/no information	Could you tell me if + subject + verb?
Ask someone to do something	Would you mind + verb-ing?
Ask for permission or an object	Could I + verb…?
Write a soft formal request	I was wondering if…

Decide if each statement is correct.

For next time

Write four polite questions for a visitor in your town:

One question for a train station
One question for a restaurant
One question for a shop
One question for a hotel

Make Questions Sound Polite

Say each direct question in a softer way for a stranger or service worker.

Polite starter	Use it for…
Could you tell me…?	asking for information
Could I…?	asking for permission or an object
Would you mind…?	asking someone to do something
I was wondering if…	a soft, formal request

First, unscramble these useful words. 🔤

could (a polite word for requests)
mind (used in “Would you ___...?”)
wondering (thinking politely about a question)
possible (able to happen or be done)
reception (the hotel service desk)
tourist (a visitor on holiday)
station (a place for trains or buses)
vegetarian (a person who does not eat meat)

Now make these questions polite. Say your answer aloud.

Where is the bank?
What time does the museum open?
Is the station near here?
Where can I buy tickets?
Does this bus go to the airport?
What is the Wi-Fi password?
Is there a restaurant nearby?
When does the shop close?

Build Polite Questions

Notice the pattern

Direct question	Polite indirect question
Where is the bank?	Could you tell me where the bank is?
Is the café open?	Could you tell me if the café is open?

Pattern: polite starter + question word / if + subject + verb.

Request	Form
Ask for a map	Could I have a map?
Ask someone to speak slowly	Would you mind speaking slowly?
Make a formal request	I was wondering if you could help me.

Connect each situation with the best request

Choose the most suitable sentence for each situation.

Connect each situation with the most polite request

At hotel reception, you need a city map.: Could I have a map, please?
You cannot understand the receptionist.: Would you mind speaking slowly?
You need directions to the tourist office.: Could you tell me where the tourist office is?
You are writing to a hotel.: I was wondering if you could help me.

Put the conversation in order

Arrange this short hotel conversation from first to last.

Put the hotel conversation in the correct order

Tourist: Excuse me. Could you tell me where the reception is?
Receptionist: It is on the ground floor, next to the entrance.
Tourist: Thank you. Could I have a map, please?
Receptionist: Of course. Here you are.

Complete the polite questions

Use the word in brackets to complete each sentence.

Could you tell me where the train station [___] ?
I was wondering if the tourist office [___] open on Sundays.
Would you mind [___] slowly, please?
Could I [___] a map, please?

Put the travel plans in order

Arrange the steps in this polite exchange.

Put the travel conversation in the correct order

Visitor: Could you tell me if this bus goes to the airport?
Driver: Yes, it does. The airport is the final stop.
Visitor: Thank you. Would you mind telling me the ticket price?
Driver: Certainly. It is five pounds.

Choose a suitable phrase for each place

Connect each place with a polite question or request.

Connect each place with the best sentence

At a restaurant, you need food information.: Could you tell me if this dish is vegetarian?
At a train station, you need information.: Could you tell me where platform six is?
At a shop, you want to pay by card.: Could I pay by card, please?
At an office, you need an appointment time.: I was wondering if you have an appointment tomorrow.

At the Hotel Reception

Listen for places, times, and polite requests.

Where is the tourist office?
Until what time is it open?
What does Sofia offer to write on?
What food information does Daniel ask about?

Choose the Right Polite Question

Choose one need: a menu, vegetarian food, a table, or the price.

How would you politely ask the waiter?
Which phrase is best: Could I…?, Would you mind…?, or Could you tell me…?
Is this a formal or friendly service situation?

Choose one need: directions, the nearest station, a map, or opening hours.

How would you politely ask the passer-by?
How would your question change if you asked a receptionist instead?
Make one direct question softer.

Tourist Help Role-Play

Role: You are a tourist. Your teacher is a local helper.

Use at least:

two indirect questions
two polite requests

Scene 1: At the train station

Ask about:

the platform
a ticket
the next train

Scene 2: At the restaurant

Ask about:

a table
vegetarian food
the menu