In Spanish, as well as in English, there are different ways of making requests or asking somebody to do something. They can be made in a direct way, as a command, which can be considered improper or too rude depending on the context, and in an indirect way. Polite requests are always correct, but more particularly in formal situations (when you are talking to somebody you don\u00b4t know quite well, or a business meeting, for example). So let\u00b4s see some strategies to make polite requests in Spanish:<\/p>\n
1.<\/strong> A common way is to turn the command into a question. If we include \u201cpor favor\u201d at the end of the question, the addressee will perceive it as even more polite.<\/p>\n – Cierra la puerta. Close the door<\/em> (imperative, too aggressive) 2.<\/strong> A different option is to use different verbs to express our need or desire. The most typical ones are \u201cquerer\u201d and \u201cpoder\u201d, but we can also find \u201cimportar\u201d, \u201cgustar\u201d, desear\u201d, etc.<\/p>\n a) Querer<\/strong> (to want<\/em>). We can use this verb in present tense, but we need to add \u201cpor favor\u201d (please<\/em>) at the beginning or the end of the sentence not to be considered too rude. The imperfect subjunctive, quisiera, is a common way of expressing wishes and making polite requests.<\/p>\n – Quiero un sandwich, por favor. I want a sandwich, please. b) Poder<\/strong> (to be able to, can<\/em>). We use \u201cpoder\u201d in present tense and the conditional tense to make requests. \u201cPoder\u201d can be used with a \u201cWould you mind\u2026\u201d sense too, or the equivalent phrases \u201c\u00bfTe importar\u00eda<\/strong> + action?\u201d, \u201c\u00bfTe molestar\u00eda<\/strong> + action?\u201d, \u201c\u00bfQuerr\u00edas<\/strong> + action?\u201d and \u201c\u00bfTe gustar\u00eda<\/strong> + action?\u201d.<\/p>\n – \u00bfPuedes cerrar la ventana, por favor? Can you close the window, please?<\/em> In formal situations, we have to bear in mind that in Spanish we use \u201custed<\/b>\u201d instead of \u201ct\u00fa<\/b>\u201d as a sign of respect, or when we don\u00b4t know our addressee. Also, the pronoun \u201cte<\/b>\u201d would be replaced by \u201cle\u201d(<\/b>formal, singular) or \u201cles<\/b>\u201d (formal, plural). Now let\u00b4s see an increasing scale of politeness in these sentences: Responding to Polite Requests<\/strong> 1.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/b><\/em>Affirmative Responses<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n – S\u00ed, con mucho gusto. (Yes, with pleasure.)<\/em> 2. Negative Responses<\/b><\/em><\/p>\n – Lo siento, no puedo. (I’m sorry, I can’t.)<\/em> In Spanish, as well as in English, there are different ways of making requests or asking somebody to do something. They can be made in a direct way, as a command, which can be considered improper or too rude depending on the context, and in an indirect way. Polite requests are always correct, but more…<\/p>\n
\n– \u00bfPuedes cerrar la puerta, por favor? Can you close the door, please?<\/em><\/p>\n
\n– Quisiera un s\u00e1ndwich, por favor. I\u00b4d like a sadwich, please.<\/p>\n
\n– \u00bfPodr\u00edas ayudarme, por favor? Could you help me, please?<\/em>
\n– \u00bfTe importar\u00eda hablar m\u00e1s bajo? Would you mind speaking quietly?
\n-\u00bfTe molestar\u00eda apagar la tele? Would you mind turning the tv off?
\n– \u00bfQuerr\u00edas acompa\u00f1arme? Would you like to come with me?
\n– \u00bfTe gustar\u00eda acompa\u00f1arme? Would you like to come with me?<\/p>\n
\n– \u00bfTe importar\u00eda…? (less formal)
\n– \u00bfLe importar\u00eda…? (quite formal)<\/p>\n
\n– Dame\/deme un vaso de agua. (imperative: mostly rude)
\n– Dame\/deme un vaso de agua, por favor. \u00bfMe das\/da un vaso de agua? (familiar, but ok)
\n– \u00bfMe das\/da un vaso de agua, por favor? (polite enough, most used)
\n– \u00bfMe dar\u00edas\/dar\u00eda un vaso de agua, por favor? = \u00bfPodr\u00edas\/podr\u00eda darme un vaso de agua? (particularly polite)
\n– \u00bfMe podr\u00eda dar un vaso de agua, por favor? = \u00bfLe importar\u00eda darme un vaso de agua, por favor? (most polite)<\/p>\n
\nIt would be easy if the answer is yes, but we should soften the answer if it is negative, a straight \u201cno\u201d would be considered quite impolite. We can do it by introducing \u201clo siento\u201d (I\u00b4m sorry) before we give our reasons.<\/p>\n
\n– Por supuesto. (Of course.)<\/em>
\n– Como no. (Certainly sure.)<\/em><\/p>\n
\n– Lamentablemente, no puedo. (Unfortunately, I can\u00b4t.)<\/em>
\n– Me gustar\u00eda ayudar, pero no puedo. (I’d like to help, but I can’t.)<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"