Mayumi
Which is better for business 'Can I ask your name please?' or ' Could I ask your name?'
2014년 6월 19일 오전 2:52
답변 · 7
1
"What's your name?" <- most common "Can I ask your name please?" <-uncommon/polite "Could I ask your name?" <-common/polite
2014년 6월 19일
'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.
2014년 6월 19일
Thank you!
2014년 6월 19일
Could I ask your name?- is really polite
2014년 6월 19일
아직도 답을 찾지 못하셨나요?
질문을 남겨보세요. 원어민이 도움을 줄 수 있을 거예요!