You already know to say “Please”, “Thank you,” and “Excuse me” – but here are 15 more ways to make your English sound more polite! First, we have added the modal verb ‘might ’, a technique we discussed … Don't forget to listen to the end of the podcast because we have a new football phrase for you to guess, too. How to be polite to others and how to make requests politely so that people are more likely to do what you asked. Can I go now? Or: I’ll have a hamburger, please. It’s a good idea to develop a routine to follow, so you know there will be no surprises. Below, we’ve included 3 formal phone conversation examples for you to consider. It can also cause the reader to feel like you’re pointing blame because you didn’t answer, which doesn’t make the reader feel very good or interested in reading your email. You are the boss and someone who works for you asks for an extra day's holiday. Phrase 4 is polite and can be used with people you don't know very well, or with your boss. Thesis. Your task is to imagine that you are a team leader in a call centre and you need to give your team some customer service training. Transcript. Would you mind not ...? So, instead of saying: "Send me the report." 30-60 minutes . It is one of the first lessons parents teach their children once they are old enough to speak. ("can" - permission / polite request) Level: elementary Age: 12-17 Downloads: 46 : Making polite requests Level: intermediate Age: 10-17 Downloads: 41 : Would you mind ...? Style matters – especially when we talk with our co-workers, consumers, patients, and supervisors. We will look at only a few of the linguistic devices by which A could reduce or eliminate the threat to B's face - Students match the expressions on the left to the pictures and write complete requests with the appropriate request phrase. Here you are. The speaker has made no attempt here to soften the negative content of the message. Because there are no facial cues while speaking over the phone, it can often be difficult to know when the conversation has ended. ''I'm afraid I can't'' is a polite way to refuse a request. ESL Conversation worksheet: Imperatives vs Polite Requests in the Workplace. That’s why I like to mix things up and have another teacher do the heavy lifting sometimes. people are polite to the extent that they enhance, or lessen the threat to, another's face. (more informal) Could you say thanks to your mum for me? "Can" is also common, but it's more often used with close friends. POLITE REQUESTS - accepting or refusing ; Can I have a copy of this letter please? It was more successful and much more polite. We have added just two words to the sentence, but we have made it considerably more diplomatic. Asking Indirect Questions to Be Especially Polite . In English, we call this distancing. Remember: ''I'd like'' is more polite than ''I want''. We also use modals for asking for something (making a request or asking permission). If it is more of an informal phone conversation (speaking to a friend, family member, close work colleague or even a friend of a friend), then a high level of formality is usually not required, but you should still speak with a polite manner, as it is seen as respectful. Go ahead. Yes. As basic as this is, however, it is surprising how many people do it poorly. Notice that indirect questions begin with a phrase ("I wonder," "Do you think," "Would you mind," etc. 2. Phrases 7 and 8 are similar and are direct requests for help. Do you think you could help me with this please? 73. Sorry. Statement A is obviously more polite than statement B. If you'd like to sound more polite when talking to someone you don't know well, "could" is great to use. Length. Not normally. Could you help me with this please? Any misunderstanding can have an adverse effect on your goodwill and business. This is Pamela, how may I help you?” Gary: “Hi Pamela, this is Gary Sanderson of ACME Graphic Design Stud Pamela: “Hello? It is a culturally defined phenomenon, and therefore what is considered polite in one culture can sometimes be quite rude or simply eccentric in another cultural context.. Rich: We said ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ a lot. Polite requests Please / Could you please /Would you /Can you / Would you mind. I'm afraid that's not possible. For these situations, we can’t use the same language that we would use for a routine request. But this is the basic outline for most business telephone conversations, especially those made to request information or ask for clarification. When writing a polite follow-up email, most people tend to naturally use “follow-up” in the subject line. In our case, A will be polite to the extent that she can reduce or eliminate the threat to B's face caused by her request. A takeaway from your conversation — Shows you were listening; Your ask — Keeps the ball moving; Here’s how to roll it all together: Subject Line: Great to meet you at {!Event} Hi {!First Name}, It was nice to meet you at {!Occasion where you met}. Feel free to practice each one on your own. It would seem quite rude to phrase it as such, so we resort to the more polite indirect way (A). Asking to do things – asking for permission. The above samples show how to politely accept or reject a meeting request. (more informal) Could I speak to Amy, please? Everyone would much rather be asked to do something than told! Carry on a polite and respectful conversation. No problem. I sometimes think that students get tired of hearing me talk all the time! You reply: I'd like a tuna sandwich, please. Indirect questions request the same information as direct questions, but they are considered more formal. “I want” sounds like a demand, as if you … Yes, you can. Titles: Male: ‘Mr.‘ (or ‘Mister’) In the cafe, the person serving says ''What can I get you?'' You are desperate for help. Why don’t we… 75. 9. Conversation Examples. / No, you can’t.? Language you can use when you have to make a request, offer or invitation. It's quite strong. You accept the request but ask the person to work Saturday instead. Making a polite request, and responding accordingly, should be one of the first things you learn in English. In this conversation, we included the right level of politeness for the situation. (You can also say ''I'm sorry I can't''. Expressing polite requests is an important building block for your ESL students to achieve natural, everyday speech. Therefore, make sure your English speaking skills and writing skills are up to date and polished. 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