Modals of Polite Request: Would you, Could you, Will you, Can you (2024)

FAQs

What are the modals of polite request? ›

Modals of Polite Request: Would you, Could you, Will you, Can you.

To ask questions in a very polite way, use: Would you/ Could you (please) + simple verb + ...? For example: Would you please email that document to me? I need it ASAP*.

Both can and could can be used to make a request, but when asking for permission, could is the more polite choice to use. When indicating ability or possibility, can is used in the present tense and could is used in the past tense.

“Would you” and “Could you” are equally polite and valid ways to make a request. “Could you” sounds more polite than “Would you.” “Would you” sounds more insistent and is more often used in angry requests, such as “Would you please hurry up!”

Another difference between 'will' and 'would' is that 'will' is used in statements that refer to the future while 'would' is used to refer to events of the future in past tense. However, 'would' is also used for expressing various kinds of sentence functions like polite offers, invitations, requests, etc.

In general, would is often considered to be more formal or more polite than will when asking questions because it seems less blunt or less direct. Grammatically, though, it is correct to use either one.

Both "could" and "would" are followed by the base form of the verb. Examples of "could" usage: "Could you help me?" "I could swim when I was younger." Examples of "would" usage: "Would you like some tea?" "I would visit if I had the opportunity."

Both 'can' and ' could' are modal verbs that refer to 'a possibility', 'ability' or 'capacity'. 'Can' refers to a general truth or something that has a strong sense of possibility. 'Could' refers to something that has a weak possibility, or something that might happen, but is not necessarily a general truth.

Will and can for request? ›

You can also use 'can' and 'will' to make polite requests but these can be used in more casual situations. Again, you can vary the formality of the request by adding or removing 'please'.

May is the more formal word, and if you are at all concerned about being tut-tutted, a safe choice. Can is now the verb of choice for ability, and both can and may are still used in the "possibility" sense. You may use can if you wish, and you can use may if it makes you feel better.

The words ask and solicit are common synonyms of request. While all three words mean "to seek to obtain by making one's wants known," request implies greater formality and courtesy. In what contexts can ask take the place of request?

When making polite requests, the modals 'could' and 'would' are very useful. Starting your request with these two modals immediately makes your request a lot more polite. Another word that's often used when making a polite request is 'please'.

Mostly the modal verb 'would' is used in combination with the main verb 'like' to soften the conversation and give offers in a more polite way. In this case, we ask whether the listener wants us to do something, or need something. Would you like a little bit of fresh air?

May and Might

If you wish to be polite and formal when requesting something, you can use may. Similarly, you can use it to give permission or a suggestion. You can use might to make polite suggestions.