{"id":3954,"date":"2014-09-16T09:00:47","date_gmt":"2014-09-16T13:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/?p=3954"},"modified":"2014-07-25T16:52:44","modified_gmt":"2014-07-25T20:52:44","slug":"polite-ways-to-say-no-in-english","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/polite-ways-to-say-no-in-english\/","title":{"rendered":"Polite ways to say \u201cno\u201d in English."},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Image<\/a>

Image “No.” by sboneham on Flickr.com.<\/p><\/div>\n

Here is a good rule to keep in mind about English; it is often better to be polite than it is to be direct. English speakers often use more words than are necessary to say \u2018yes\u2019 and \u2018no\u2019 because they are adding polite words to the simple messages they are trying to get across. If you are too direct in saying \u2018no\u2019 in English this can be considered rude. Let\u2019s take a look today at some different, polite, ways to say \u2018no.\u2019 You might want to practice these new expressions often, so you don\u2019t have to worry about appearing rude when speaking English to native speakers.<\/p>\n

Here are some polite ways to say \u2018no\u2019 to a request for help:<\/h4>\n

I would love to help you, but \u2026<\/em>
\n I wish I could help you, but \u2026<\/em>
\n Normally I would be able to, but …\u00a0 or Normally I would say yes, but\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

Unfortunately now is not a good time for me….<\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Polite ways to say \u2018no\u2019 to an offer that you do not want to accept:<\/h4>\n

I appreciate the offer, but \u2026<\/em>
\n That would be great, but \u2026.<\/em>
\n Thank you for the offer, but … <\/em><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Polite ways to say \u2018no\u2019 to an invitation:<\/strong><\/h4>\n

That sounds great, but\u2026.<\/em>
\n I\u2019m sorry I can\u2019t come that day\/night. I have \u2026<\/em>
\n I really appreciate the invitation, but\u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

I wish I could come, but unfortunately \u2026<\/em><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

Okay, now let\u2019s practice using these expressions in context with a few scenarios. Here are three situations in which you need to find a polite way to say \u2018no.\u2019 Try and use the help above and see what you come up with, then look below to see what I would say in these situations.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scenario 1:<\/strong> Your neighbor is moving to a new apartment and comes over at the last minute asking for help moving her furniture. You have to prepare for a big presentation so you are too busy to help.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scenario 2:<\/strong> Your boyfriend offers to pick you up from work, but you already have plans to have drinks with your co-workers and so you don\u2019t need a ride home.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scenario 3:<\/strong> You are invited to a party at a co-workers house, but you don\u2019t really like the co-worker and don\u2019t want to go.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scenario 1:<\/strong><\/p>\n

I would love to help you, but I am really busy working on a presentation for work right now, so I am not free.
\nI wish I could help you, but I have a lot of work to do for a presentation I am making tomorrow.
\nNormally I would be able to, but I have to prepare for my big presentation that is happening tomorrow.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately now is not a good time for me, I have to work on an important presentation.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scenario 2:<\/strong><\/p>\n

I appreciate the offer, but I was planning on having drinks with my coworkers.
\nThat would be great, but just not tonight, because I am having drinks with my coworkers.
\nThank you for the offer, but I have plans already to have drinks with my coworkers. Why don\u2019t you come and have drinks with us!<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Scenario 3:<\/strong><\/p>\n

That sounds great, but I can\u2019t make it this time.
\nI\u2019m sorry I can\u2019t come that night. I have other plans already.
\nI really appreciate the invitation, but I am not going to be able to make it this time.<\/p>\n

I wish I could come, but unfortunately I won\u2019t be able to be there. Have a great party.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How do your responses compare to mine?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

Here is a good rule to keep in mind about English; it is often better to be polite than it is to be direct. English speakers often use more words than are necessary to say \u2018yes\u2019 and \u2018no\u2019 because they are adding polite words to the simple messages they are trying to get across. If…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":85,"featured_media":3973,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[135139,135370],"tags":[11974,333427],"class_list":["post-3954","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english-language","category-english-vocabulary","tag-no","tag-polite-ways-to-say-no"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3954","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/85"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3954"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3954\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3974,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3954\/revisions\/3974"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3954"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3954"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3954"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}