Could in a polite way?
Could and May A third modal for making polite requests is could. For example, “Could I please have some water?” Could is the past tense of can. However, when asking for permission, could does not have a past tense meaning. Could has the same meaning as may when making requests.
When use could and would?
Could is used to say that an action or event is possible. Would is used to talk about a possible or imagined situation, and is often used when that possible situation is not going to happen.
Is it polite to use Could you please?
Both are correct. The first is more direct, and the second is more polite. Could you please . . .
Is would like polite?
“Would like” is a polite way to say “I want” in English. For example: “I want to buy a ticket” is impolite because “I want” sounds selfish and arrogant. “I would like to buy a ticket please” is polite and friendly.
Would you Vs could you?
‘Could You’ is considered to be an informal way of asking something, contrary, ‘Would You’ is a formal way of requesting someone to do something.
Could you please vs Please could you?
We also use ‘could’ to ask permission; it is more polite or formal than ‘can’. Changing the word order to “could you please” is no more or less polite – it’s a matter of style. whether requests starting with “Please can/could you…” render the same degree of politeness as those that start with “Could you please…”.
Would VS could polite?
How to remember the difference. When it comes to requests, we can use both could and would, but could is more formal and polite than would. While making polite requests, could is used with suggestions, as it indicates a possibility. On the contrary, would is used with offers or invites, because it is more usual.
Could you please vs Would you please?
But I would suppose that “would” is more polite, because it expresses the idea of probability, and of willingness, and of the desire that something be done, whereas “could” is more in the realm of ability (yes I can). And according to the American Heritage Dictionary, “would” is used to make a polite request.
Would like VS would want?
Want means to wish, desire, need and sometimes can be a little direct, or impolite; would like is the polite form for want. For example, when someone asks you what you would like to drink – which reply sounds more polite to you?
Would usage examples?
The Many Uses of ‘Would’ in Everyday Speech, Part 1
| Uses of ‘Would’ | Example |
|---|---|
| Reported speech | Anita said that she would bring the drinks. |
| Present unreal conditionals (imaginary situations) | I would move to Japan if I spoke Japanese. |
| Repeated past actions | When I was little, I would play hopscotch with my friends. |
Would you mind vs Could you please?
The meaning is the same in both sentences, but with ‘could’ the speaker sounds a little less sure of the answer and this makes the request sound more polite. To be even more polite, you might say, Would you mind…? (‘Would’ sounds a little less sure than ‘do’): Would you mind if I turned the music down?
Which is more polite’could’or’would’?
Note: In making a request, ‘would’ is slightly more polite than ‘could’, but this is really just a small distinctions. Questions that start with either ‘could’ or ‘would’ are both polite ways to make requests. The super shorter summary of the difference between ‘could’ and ‘would’ is this: could = possibility + ability
Do you have to be polite when making a request?
When you make requests for something to someone or want someone to do something for you, your tone has to be polite and convincing. If your words are polite, but the tone is even a bit rude, your request may not work as expected. Be sure that your request does not appear to be orders just because of your tone.
What’s the polite way to ask for something?
Using the word “please” as well as some modal verbs like “could” and “would” can have a polite effect on the request. Remember! Your tone and body language also matter while you make any request to someone. However, the way you make requests may vary depending on the situation: formal, informal, and semi-formal.
When to use’could’and’would’in English?
Often ESL speakers misuse, or inappropriately interchange, the words ‘could’ and ‘would’. Part of the reason for this is that they can be used interchangeably some times, i.e. when making a polite request in the form of a question (Example: Could you help me? or Would you help me?).