Asking Politely in Everyday Situations

How do you ask for help in English?

• “Give me water.”
• “Could I have some water, please?”

What is the difference?

Direct language can sound strong in public situations. Polite language often begins with a soft opener and ends with please.

Polite words for public places

Building polite questions

The main pattern

Indirect question = polite opener + question word + subject + verb

Correct: Could you tell me where the bank is?

Incorrect: Could you tell me where is the bank?

After where, when, what, and how, use normal statement order:

Yes/no information questions

Use if or whether when the direct question has a yes/no answer.

If and whether have the same meaning here. If is more common in everyday speech.

Asking for permission

Use softer phrases with strangers, staff, customers, managers, or older people. Direct language is not always wrong, but English often sounds friendlier with a polite opener.

Asking someone to do something

Use:

Would you mind + verb-ing?

Do not use to + verb after Would you mind.

Common mistakes

Choose the polite form

Match the situation to a suitable opening

Connect each situation with the most suitable request stem.

Choose the correct sentence

Say the complete sentence before you choose.

1. [___]
2. [___]
3. [___]
4. [___]

Change the direct question

Use the prompt in each sentence to create one polite, complete sentence.

1. Direct question: “Where is the post office?” Use Could you tell me…: [___]
2. Direct question: “What time does the shop close?” Use Do you know…: ___(Do you know what time the shop closes?:😀o you know)
3. Direct question: “Is the café nearby?” Use Do you know if…: ___(Do you know if the café is nearby?:😀o you know if)
4. Ask very politely to use a chair. Use I was wondering if…: [___]

Asking for directions

Read the dialogue aloud. Take turns being the Tourist and the Local.

Tourist: Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the City Museum?
Local: Certainly. It is near the river, behind the bank.
Tourist: Thank you. Do you know if the museum is open today?
Local: Yes, I think it is open until six o’clock.
Tourist: Great. I was wondering if there is a bus from here.
Local: Yes. You can take the number twelve from the station.
Tourist: Could you tell me where the station is?
Local: Walk straight ahead, turn left at the supermarket, and you will see it.
Tourist: Would you mind telling me how often the bus comes?
Local: Not at all. It comes every fifteen minutes.
Tourist: Thank you very much. Could I buy a ticket on the bus?
Local: Yes, but you may need cash.
Tourist: Thanks. Do you know whether there is a cash machine nearby?
Local: Yes, there is one beside the station.
Tourist: That is very helpful. Have a nice day!
Local: You too.

1. Where is the City Museum?
2. Until what time is the museum open?
3. Which bus can the Tourist take?
4. How often does the bus come?

Difficult words

• certainly — definitely; yes, of course
• straight ahead — forward, without turning
• supermarket — a large food shop
• cash — money in coins and notes
• cash machine — a machine that gives you money from your bank account
• beside — next to
• every fifteen minutes — once every 15 minutes

Key language to remember

The formula

Polite opener + question word / if / whether + subject + verb

Could you tell me where the bank is?

• No inversion after the question word.
• Use if or whether for polite yes/no questions.
• Use Would you mind + verb-ing to ask someone to do something.

Politeness scale

Review the patterns

Words from today

• Excuse me
• Could you tell me
• Do you know
• I was wondering if
• Could I
• May I
• Would you mind
• possible
• directions
• information
• station
• bank
• open
• available
• nearby