Polite requests: could, would and would like
Asking and offering politely: could you help me, could I have the bill, I'd like a coffee, would you like to come?
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In English, a request is usually a question, not an order: Could you open the window?, Could I have a glass of water? To say what we want, we use I'd like, and to offer something or invite someone, Would you like ...?
Too direct or polite
A request made as an order can sound rude in English, in a shop, at work or with people we don't know well. A question with could or can and please sounds normal.
Too direct | Polite |
|---|---|
Give me a coffee. | Could I have a coffee, please? |
Close the door. | Could you close the door, please? |
I want the bill. | Can I have the bill, please? |
Asking someone to do something
Use Can you ...?, Could you ...? or Would you ...? + verb. Could and would are more polite than can. The verb after them has no to.
- Could you help me with this bag, please?
- Would you sign here, please?
- Can you send me the file?
- Incorrect: Could you to repeat that, please?
- Correct: Could you repeat that, please?After could, the verb has no to.
Answers: Sure. / Of course. / Yes, no problem. To say no, give a reason: I'm sorry, I can't. I'm in a hurry.
Asking for something: could I have ...?
Use Can I have ...? or Could I have ...? to ask for something in a shop, a café or a hotel.
- Could I have the menu, please?
- Can I have two tickets for the six o'clock film?
- Could I have a receipt, please?
I'd like: what you want
I'd like (= I would like) is a polite way to say what you want. Use it with a noun, or with to + verb.
- I'd like a table for two, please.
- I'd like to book a room for Friday.
- We'd like to pay separately.
- Incorrect: I like a coffee and a croissant, please.
- Correct: I'd like a coffee and a croissant, please.I like means you enjoy it in general. To order, use I'd like.
Would you like ...? Offers and invitations
Use Would you like + a noun to offer something, and Would you like to + verb to invite someone.
- Would you like a glass of water?
- Would you like to come to dinner on Saturday?
- Incorrect: Would you like go for a walk?
- Correct: Would you like to go for a walk?Before a verb, would like needs to.
Answer yes | Answer no |
|---|---|
Yes, please. | No, thank you. / No, thanks. |
I'd love to. (to an invitation) | I'm sorry, I can't. I'm busy on Saturday. |
- Incorrect: "Would you like some cake?" "Yes, I'd like."
- Correct: "Would you like some cake?" "Yes, please."I'd like needs something after it. The short answer is Yes, please.
Would you like or do you like?
Would you like ...? is an offer for now. Do you like ...? asks about what someone enjoys in general.
- Would you like a coffee?
(I'm offering you one now.)
- Do you like coffee?
(In general, do you enjoy it?)
- Incorrect: Do you like some tea? I've just made some.
- Correct: Would you like some tea? I've just made some.This is an offer, so use would like.
Please
Please goes at the end of a request, after the subject, or at the start: Please could you wait a moment? Use it often: in English it is a normal part of a request, not something extra.
- Could you wait a moment, please?
- Could you please wait a moment?