How will you please in English? Polite and not very requests in English How will you help me in English please?
All of us have had to ask for help at least once in our lives. Help is something that everyone needs sooner or later, therefore, expressions with this word in any language are very numerous. English is no exception, and besides everyone knows help and can I help you? there are many expressions associated with this word. Well, let's see how you can use this word and learn how to talk about help in English.
Using the verb help
Let's start with grammar. Contrary to popular belief that we are often taught in school, the word help can be used as with a particle to , and without it:
He helped me to wrap the present for her birthday. “He helped pack her birthday present.
The secretary helped him fill out the application form. - The secretary helped him fill out the registration form.
Verb help most often used in relation to people. This is quite natural - after all, help is most often seen as an act of goodwill on the part of other people.
He devoted his life and time to helping the sick people around the world... - He dedicated his life to helping patients around the world.
We can also use this word in relation to inanimate nouns when we mean that something will be useful or useless in solving a problem.
Good sleep might help your headache. - Good dream can help you get rid of your headache.
Crying won’t help. - Tears of sorrow will not help.
Synonyms for the verb help
The help verb is not alone; it has several synonyms. For example, in a formal language, the word is often used assist... But it is often used to show that the work of the helping party is easier or less important.
He assisted the professor with organization of the conference. - He helped (assisted) the professor in organizing the conference.
If someone contributes to something, then in English the verb is responsible for this action to abet... Verb to aid means providing something useful to help. On the resource you will find at least 85 possible synonyms and phrases that denote some kind of help. How many of them are you familiar with?
In colloquial speech, the expression is often used to help out (or to lend / give a hand). It is closer in meaning to the Russian version of "help out", but although the usual "help" is also often suitable as a translation.
Could you help me out and give a call to Jane? My battery is dead. “Could you help me out and call Jane?” My battery has run out.
Occasionally I help out / give a hand at the grandpa's home. - From time to time I help my grandfather around the house.
Verb help it is very productive and, having learned it - or rather the expressions that it is a part of - you can express a lot of ideas in one fell swoop. It is especially useful for gentlemen. So, for those who want to be courteous and gallant with women, a gentleman's set with the word help.
- To help smb into/out of/across- help someone get into ... / get out of ... / go through ...
- To help smb on/off with smth- help someone put on / take off their outerwear.
- To help yourself to smth- treat yourself to something.
- To give smb a helping hand- help someone / lend a helping hand.
I don’t need your help to get into the taxi. “I don’t need your help to get into the taxi.
Would you mind if I helped you with the coat? - Do you mind if I help you with your coat?
Can I help you to some wine? - Can I buy you some wine?
Please, help yourself to more cake. - Please take another cake.
My sister is an angel. She has been giving me a helping hand with children since my second child was born. - My sister is an angel. She has been helping me with the children since my second child was born.
Other meanings of the verb help
The word is connected not only with help. In fact, it is often used to express ideas that are far from the original meaning of the word. Here are a few of them.
His appearance was so funny! I couldn’t help laughing. - His appearance was so funny! I just couldn't help laughing.
I can’t help thinking that I have made a terrible mistake. “I can't stop thinking I've made a terrible mistake.
From these examples, we can see that the expression can’t/couldn’t help doing smth used in cases where the action is, as it were, beyond the control of a person, he wants not to do something, but cannot.
There is another similar expression that is often used for the same purpose - to say that you could not refrain from some action, but it is also used with a slightly different shade of meaning. Let's take a look at some examples.
I can’t help but eat after 6 p.m. “I can’t resist not eating after 6pm.
Her mother couldn’t help but notice a big bruise under her eye. - Her mother could not help but notice the big bruise under her eye.
I can’t but mention this wonderful example of self-denial. - I cannot fail to mention this wonderful example of self-denial.
Design can’t / couldn’t help but do smth, as we see, often implies an involuntary action, something that we cannot but do - that is, an action is so organic that a person does not even try to restrain it.
Continuing this thought, it should be noted that expressions with the verb help often convey the idea of powerlessness to stop something or things that are beyond our responsibility.
I can't help it if he fails the exam. - If he fails the exam, I have nothing to do with it.
She always gets nervous when she speaks in public, she can’t help it. - She's always nervous when she speaks in front of an audience, she just can't do anything about it.
They couldn’t help the accident. “They couldn't have prevented the accident.
A list of expressions that will help us "shrug off responsibility"
And also the word help forms a number of derivatives that are very useful in everyday speech. Here are a few of them:
| Expression in English | Translation |
|---|---|
| A helper | Assistant |
| A helpline | Helpline |
| A helpmate | Companion / life partner |
| A helping | Portion, treat |
| Helpless | Helpless |
| Helpful | 1. Useful (in some situation, more often about things) 2. Helpful, ready to help (about people) |
Well, in the end, all that remains is to wish that we always have faithful and reliable helpers nearby, and that we had to ask for help as little as possible!
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In learning any language, the most important thing is to master colloquial speech... This is necessary in order to be able to start any conversation on foreign language, and also not to get confused in various conversational situations. And here English polite phrases and words will help us. After all, our treatment of the interlocutor should be kind in order to make a favorable impression on him.
Expressing courtesy and respect in EnglishExpression of courtesy, courtesy and respect in English language very important. Certain phrases will help us start a conversation, say hello, express refusal or agreement, regret or joy, ask for help, apologize, say goodbye, wish good luck in English.
Expressions of courtesy in English, as in any other language, are usually used when meeting and saying goodbye, when starting a telephone conversation and at the end of it. It is necessary to be careful and distinguish between communication with a peer and a person older than you, with a friend and with a stranger, since you cannot say to an elderly person “ Hey! Hi, Hello!", but " Hello! How do you do, Good day!". Also, when parting, we do not say to an elderly person “ Bye, bye. Bye", but " Goodbye. Good bye».
So, here are the basic expressions for polite greetings and goodbyes in English. These expressions will help you say hello, start a conversation, and at the end of it, say goodbye to the other person:
- Good morning! - Good morning!
- Good day / evening! - Good afternoon / evening!
- Nice to meet you! - Glad to meet you
- Hello! Hi! - Hey!
- How are you today? - How are you today? How are you doing?
- Glad to see you! - Glad to see you (you)!
- Welcome! - Welcome!
- Good bye! - Goodbye!
- Good night! - Goodnight!
- Have a nice day! - Wish you have a good day!
- See you! - See you later!
- See you soon! - See you soon!
- See you later! - See you later!
- Bye-bye! - Bye!
Expressions that will help when acquaintance
These English courtesy phrases are meant to help you introduce yourself, give your name, introduce your friend, colleague, etc.
- What is your name? - What is your name? My name is ... - My name is ...
- Nice to meet you! - Glad to see you!
- Nice to meet you, too. - I'm glad to see you too
- Let me introduce my friend, my colleague ... - Let me introduce my friend, colleague ...
- This is my friend ... - This is my friend ...
How to politely thank and respond to gratitude?
Gratitude is also an expression of respect in any language of the world. As you can see, these expressions of courtesy express gratitude, as well as what to answer if you are thanked:
- Thank you! - Thanks. Thank you
- Thank you very much! - Thanks a lot
- Thank you ever so much! - Thank you so much
- Thanks a lot! - Thanks a lot
- Be welcome. - Please. Please contact again
- You are welcome. - Please
- It's my pleasure. - With pleasure
- Not at all. - My pleasure.
Here you should pay attention to the word “ Please". This word in English is not an answer to gratitude, although it is translated as "Please". It is used when you want to make a request.
For example:
- Please, help me! - Please help me!
- Please, give me your pencil. - Please give me your pencil.
How to ask for forgiveness in English?
These expressions of courtesy can help you apologize and apologize or express regret in a given situation:
- Pardon! - I'm sorry, I'm sorry
- Sorry! - Sorry
- I am sorry! - I'm sorry.
But the expression “ Sorry!" and " Excuse me!". The phrase "Excuse me!" used when you want to ask about something, to clarify something, etc.
For example:
- Sorry, I can't come to you. - Excuse me, I can come to you.
- Excuse me, where is the post office. - Excuse me, where is the post office?
If you need to ask or ask for help
- Can I ask you? - May I ask you?
- Could you help me? - Could you please help me?
- May I ask you for a help? - May I ask you for help?
- Can I help you? - Can I help you?
- Could you do me a favor? - Would you do me a favor?
- Please! - Please!
- What can I do for you? - How can I help you?
What happened?!
Courtesies to help us ask a question about what happened. They reflect our emotions of surprise, bewilderment, surprise about the situation that has happened:
- What’s the matter? - What happened?
- What’s up / going on? - What's the matter / What's going on?
- What’s the trouble / happening? - What's the problem / What's going on?
Polite phrases of comfort and encouragement
Such phrases and speech constructions are useful for expressing politeness, if you want to cheer someone up, reassure, calm down, etc.
- Don’t take it to heart. - Take it easy
- Take it easy - Don't worry, take it easy
- Never mind - Do not worry
- Forget it - Forget it, don't pay attention.
Good wishes phrases
Such expressions of courtesy serve to wish you a good day, a pleasant stay, a good weekend, etc. And you can also compliment your interlocutor for one reason or another:
- Have a nice day! - Have a good day!
- Have a good vacation! - Have a nice vacation (s) to you!
- Have a nice holiday! - Happy holiday!
- Good luck! - Good luck!
- I wish you a good week! - I wish you a good week!
- You are very beautiful today! - You are very beautiful today!
- You look great! - You look wonderful!
- This dress fits you very well! - This dress suits you very much!
There are still a lot of similar polite phrases in the English language. We have considered the most basic and most versatile designs that are used everywhere. It is very important to pronounce these phrases kindly, with a smile, and an affable voice. And then the interlocutor will definitely respond to your request or question. We wish you good luck!
When speaking in English, it is often necessary to resort to requests. They can be different: we ask for a serious service, a trifling favor, most often the requests are small and we do not expect them to be refused (“Could you please make the music quieter?”) Today we will look at how to ask permission in English, ask for help and even make an offer!
How to attract attention, call a person in English
Before you ask a stranger for something, you need to get his attention. The easiest way:
- Excuse me!- Excuse me! - Suitable for any situation.
- Sir! (sir) - when referring to a stranger.
- Ma'am(ma'am, ma'am - abbreviated from madam) - when referring to a stranger.
- Miss(miss) - when referring to an unfamiliar young woman.
Request-order
When we ask the interlocutor about something, we talk about it in the form of an incentive proposal. Its main element (sometimes the only one) is. However, in itself, without formulas of politeness, an incentive offer sounds like an order, a command, and not a request:
Pass me some butter. - Pass me some oil.
Don’t tell my parents about it. “Don't tell my parents about it.
Stand up... - Stand up.
Wake your cat up... - Wake up your cat.
Request in the form of a soft order
To turn an order into a request, however, not very soft, just add the word please(“Please”) at the beginning or end of a sentence.
Please, pass me some butter. - Please pass me some oil.
Please, don’t tell my parents. - Please don't tell my parents.
Stand up, please... - Stand up please.
Wake your cat up, please... - Wake up your cat, please.
This type of request cannot be called soft, delicate; in a certain context, it can sound like an order.
Kindly Requests in English with COULD YOU, WOULD YOU, CAN YOU and the difference between them
If you want to ask politely, add one of the courtesy formulas to the sentence:
- Could you please?
- Would you+ incentive offer + please?
- Can you+ incentive offer + please?
The part that is labeled as "incentive sentence" begins with (without the to particle). Let me remind you that in the affirmative form such a verb looks the same as it is presented in the dictionary (initial form):
- help - to help
- tell - to speak
Particle is added in negative form not:
- not help - do not help
- not tell - do not tell
Note: in all variants the word please can be placed after “you”, for example: “Could you help me, please?”
We will return to the differences between these three formulas a little later, first we will consider examples with “could you”. Here could you translates as "could you ...", the word please in translation into Russian, it can be omitted if it is not appropriate. The sentence becomes interrogative and is pronounced with interrogative intonation.
Could you please, pass me some butter? - Could you give me some oil?
Could you not tell my parents about it, please? - Could you not tell my parents about this.
Could you stand up, please... - Could you get up, please?
Could you wake your cat up, please... - Could you wake up your cat?
Note the negative example (about parents). Negation is expressed with not, no “don’t” need to be added here:
- Right: Could you please not do that?
- Not properly: Could you please don’t do that?
Now back to the difference between could you, would you, can you.
Instead of could you can be used would you or can you... For example:
Would you pass me some butter, please?
Can you stand up, please?
These options can be translated into Russian in the same way as those with could you:“Could you…” But there is a difference between them, albeit small. It can be explained simply, but it can be difficult.
Without going into details, then
- Could you, would you- the formula for a polite request, there is no difference in the sense or degree of politeness between them.
- Can you- the formula for a slightly less polite request. Roughly speaking, it is the same as in Russian you would say “Can you hand me the oil?” instead of "Could you give me the butter?"
If you dig a little deeper, then:
- Saying “ Can you pass me some butter, please? ”, we ask the interlocutor if he has physical ability transfer oil. It is clear that we are asking for a reason, but thereby expressing a request.
- Essence of the question " Could you pass me some butter, please? " the same, but the question itself is asked in a slightly softer, indirect form. Again, compare the analogs in Russian: "Can you pass the oil?" - "Could you hand over the oil?"
- Question " Would you pass me some butter, please? " refers not to the possibility, but to the desire of the interlocutor to convey oil. Something like, "Will you hand me the oil, please?"
On practice these differences are insignificant in small requests: provide oil, open a window, that is, in cases where the request is a pure formality, it is guaranteed that they will not be denied. The degree of politeness / impoliteness will be much more influenced by intonation.
The difference in matters with would you and could you more noticeable when it comes not about a petty request, but about consent, desire do something. For example, if a guy wants to invite a girl to a movie, he is more likely to say: “Would you go to cinema with me?” , and not “Could you go to cinema with me?”, because in the first case he asks about her desire (“Would you like to go to the cinema with me?”), consent, and in the second - about the possibility (“Not could you go to the movies with me? ”).
By the way, when you need to ask consent in a more confident, decisive form, it is better to use the question with, rather than its would form. Classic example: "Will you marry me?" - "Will you marry me?"
Polite requests in English with “Do you mind”
Expression “Do (would) you mind +“ used as a polite request to do something.
Do you mind opening the window? - Could you open the window?
Would you mind not smoking? - Could you not smoke?
Note: there is a similar phrase “Do (would) you mind if I…” - it is not used as a request to do something, but to get permission, we will return to it a little later.
We ask for service or help
You can ask for a favor, usually larger than serving a chair, or help using the expressions:
- Could you do me a favor?- Could you do me a favor?
With this question, you can turn to a friend, and to a colleague, and to an unfamiliar person. Example:
- Excuse me, could you do me a favor?- Could you help me?
- Sure. - Certainly can.
- Can you watch my stuff for me for a few minutes? I'll be right back. - Can you look after my things? I'll be right back.
The core of the phrase is “do me a favor”, it can be used in a slightly different form, not necessarily strictly like “Could you do me a favor?”. Examples:
Dear, do me a favor and turn the TV off, please. - Honey, do me a favor, turn off the TV, please.
Can you do me a favor and shut up, please? “Could you do me a favor and shut up, please?”
- Can you help me out (with something)?- Can you help me out?
Please help with something, help out. Usually this is how they address friends and acquaintances.
Can you help me out tomorrow? I need to move my stuff but my car is too small for that. - Will you help me out tomorrow? I need to move my junk, and my car is too small for that.
"Can you help me out WITH" will mean "help out, help with something":
Can you help me out with my homework? - Can you help me with my homework?
- Can you give me a hand (with something)?- Can you help me?
Usually we mean some kind of physical assistance right now.
Can you give me a hand? I can’t lift this box. - Can you help me? Can't lift this box.
Or the same, but in other words:
Can you give me a hand with this box? - Can you help me with this box?
You can use “help me out” with the same meaning:
Can you help me out with this box?
- I'd like- I would like
Requests from "I'd like" usually addressed to service workers, service personnel. For example, an order is usually made using this expression.
Note: after “would like” is used with the to particle.
Hi, I would like to order a pizza. - Hello, I would like to order a pizza.
I'd like to have a taxi. - I would like to order a taxi.
I'd like(to have) a hamburger, please. - I would like to (order) a hamburger.
How to ask permission in English?
Requests include more than incentive offers, the essence of which is that we ask the interlocutor to do something, but also issues for the purpose of obtaining permission... In other words, asking permission is also a request.
For this case, there are also several colloquial formulas:
- Can I \ May I- "Can I ..." or "May I ..."
For example:
May I ask you a question? - May I ask you a question?
Can I help you? - May I assist you?
Strictly speaking, in such a question it means physical possibility, and - permission, but in ordinary everyday speech these differences are so erased that there is absolutely no difference how to ask permission, "Can I go?" and "May I go?" do not differ in meaning. However, option with may more appropriate in a strict formal setting.
For example, an event host makes an announcement:
Ladies and gentelmen, may I have your attention, please? - Ladies and gentlemen, I ask for your attention (lit .: “can I get your attention”).
- Can I have \ May I have- "May I…"
Special attention should be paid to the request: Can I have… (May I have)... It is used when we want to receive something, we ask to give something to us:
Can i have a candy, please? - Can I have some candy, please?
Excuse me, may I have a cup of water? - Excuse me, can I have a cup of water?
May I have your name and address, please? - May I have your name and address, please?
- Is it ok if I…?- "It's okay if I ..."
Expressions “Is it ok if I…” or “Is it all right if I…” are analogous to our “Nothing if I… (do something)”. So we ask permission politely. For example:
Is it ok if I take your bike? - Is it okay if I take your bike?
Is it all right if I come to the party with my friend? - Is it okay if I come to the party with a friend?
- Do (would) you mind if ...?- "Do you mind if ..."
“Do you mind if” is a polite way to ask permission. Literally: "Do you mind if", but in Russian we say "Do you mind?" or "Do you mind?"
Do you mind if I open the window? - No, of course not! "Do you mind if I open the window?" - No, of course not against it.
Do you mind if I smoke? - No problem. - Do you mind if I smoke? - No problem.
Instead of do can be used would, you get a softer request:
Would you mind if I open the window? - Would you mind if I open the window?
Possible option: “Don’t you mind if”, that is, literally “Do you mind if”. There is no difference between them, just the second is a little more delicate, the speaker, as it were, admits that the interlocutor may well object. There is a little confusion with the answers with this option.
For example:
Don’t you mind if I open the window? "Do you mind if I open the window?"
In theory, if the person does not mind, he will say: “Yes”, meaning “yes, I don’t mind” (yes, I do not mind). But he can also say “no”, meaning “no, I don’t mind” - this is not entirely grammatically correct, but such an answer is possible. Although in practice people very rarely answer the question “Do you mind if I ...” with a sharp “Yes, I am against it!”. Rather, the answer will be in a more polite form, for example: “Oh, sorry but I have a cold” (sorry, but I have a cold ”).
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Various answers to gratitude and apology in English.
How will you please in English?
Hello! This article is dedicated to a very useful and popular word that we often use in conversation. Word "please"... Let's see how you can say please in English in response to people's gratitude. Indeed, in Russia we often use words such as: please, nothing at all, no thanks, contact at any time, always happy, etc. You will find a list of similar phrases in English below.
If you make a request.
Well, first of all, if you turn to someone with a request or for help, then in English there is only one "magic" word. And I'm sure you know him. Word - "Please" please.
Could you please do me a favor?
(Could you please do me a favor?)
Could you please tell me where can I find Ann?
(Please, can you tell me where can I find Anna?)
Could you please help me?
(Please, can you help me?)
In response to gratitude and apology.
If someone thanks you, then, as noted above, in Russia we often say: please, not at all, etc. Let's see what phrases are commonly used by English-speaking people in their speech:
1) The first and most popular phrase is you are welcome please.
- Thank you for it!
(Thank you for that!)
- You’re welcome!
(Please!)
2) The second good phrase is not at all you're welcome. This phrase is also used in response to an apology. For example:
- It's so kind of you! Thank you very much!
(You are so kind! Thank you very much!)
(My pleasure)
- Oh I’m sorry, my fault!
(I'm sorry, I'm sorry!
3) The third option, which also means "nothing, not worth gratitude" or is used to respond to an apology - don’t mention it .
- I'm sorry!
(Sorry!)
- Don’t mention it. It's ok.
(Do not worry, everything is fine)
- Thank you for your help.
(Thanks for your help)
- Don’t mention it.
(Trifles, not at all)
4) Next cool phrase - it's a pleasure always glad, only in joy to me, etc.
- Thank you my friend!
(Thanks buddy!)
- It's a pleasure!
(Always happy!)
5) If you want to say "no problem", then there is a simple phrase - no problem.
- Thanks for your coming.
(Thanks for coming)
(No problem)
6) And finally, the last good answer to thanks - anytime always glad to contact at any time.
- Thank you so much!
(Thanks a lot)
(Contact at any time)
That's it. These were the main options to say "Please, nothing at all, always glad, no big deal" in response to a gratitude or apology in English. Hope they expand your
Keep learning English and take care of yourself!
