Polite English: asking, thanking, and apologising
In English, politeness mostly comes from small words like “please”, “could you”, and “thank you”. The most common phrases for asking, thanking, and apologising in daily life.
By Aslıgül Aşkın,
In English, politeness mostly comes from small words: “please”, “could you”, “thank you”, “sorry”. Without them, even a correct sentence can sound rude.
Polite requests
Instead of “Give me the salt.”, “Could you pass the salt, please?” is much more polite. Other phrases: “Can I have…, please?”, “Would you mind opening the window?”, “Could you help me, please?”
Play this topicSentence BuilderLevel A1Thanking and replying
“Thank you.”, “Thanks a lot.”, “Thank you so much for your help.” In reply: “You're welcome.”, “No problem.”, “My pleasure.”
Apologising
“Sorry!” is for small mistakes. In more serious situations: “I'm really sorry.”, “I apologise for the delay.” Use “Excuse me.” to get someone's attention or to get past.
Saying no politely
Instead of a plain “No.”: “No, thank you.”, “I'm afraid I can't.”, “Thanks, but I'm OK.” A refusal that starts with thanks always sounds softer.
To keep going, see Can, could, and should in English: ability, requests, and advice and English phrases for making appointments and phone calls.
Frequently asked questions
Does “Can you” sound rude?
No, it is polite with “please”. “Could you” is a little more polite and formal.
What is the difference between “Sorry” and “Excuse me”?
“Sorry” apologises for a mistake; “Excuse me” gets someone's attention or asks to get past.
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