Mayumi
Which is better for business 'Can I ask your name please?' or ' Could I ask your name?'
١٩ يونيو ٢٠١٤ ٠٢:٥٢
الإجابات · 7
1
"What's your name?" <- most common "Can I ask your name please?" <-uncommon/polite "Could I ask your name?" <-common/polite
١٩ يونيو ٢٠١٤
'Could' as opposed to 'can' - like 'would' as opposed to 'will' - has the effect of 'distancing' the speaker from the situation. It makes you appear more tentative, and therefore more polite. 'Will' and 'can' are quite direct, whereas 'would' and 'could' suggest a more hypothetical possibility. So, yes, in most business situations it would be better to use 'could' and 'would'. English doesn't have anything the same systems of formality and hierarchy that Japanese does, but this use of conditional-style modal verbs is certainly one way of appearing more polite and respectful to someone.
١٩ يونيو ٢٠١٤
Thank you!
١٩ يونيو ٢٠١٤
Could I ask your name?- is really polite
١٩ يونيو ٢٠١٤
لم تجد إجاباتك بعد؟
اكتب اسألتك ودع الناطقين الأصليين باللغات يساعدونك!