Polite Request

Definition

polite request is a polite form of questions to ask permission or ask for help. polite request in the form of capital by the auxiliary verb  .

1. Polite Requests with " I " as The Subject

A. May I ... ? & Could I ... ?

May I and Could I are used to request permission. They are equally polite. In a polite request, could has a present or future meaning, not a past meaning.
Might is also possible: Might I borrow your pen? Might I is quite formal and polite; it is used much less frequently than May I and Could I.

Example          :

May I (please) borrow your pen?

Could I borrow your pen (please)?

B. Can I ... ?

Can I is used informally to request permission, especially if the speaker is talking to someone s/he knows fairly well. Can I is usually considered a little less polite than May I or Could I.

Example          :

Can I borrow your pen?

C. Response

Often the response to a polite request is an action, such as a nod or shake of the head, or a simple "uh-huh."

Example          :

Certainly.
Yes, certainly.
Of course. Yes, of course.
Sure. (informal)

2. Polite Requests with "You" as The Subject

A. Would You ... ? & Will you ... ?

The meaning of would you and will you in a polite request is the same. Would you is more common and is often considered more polite. The degree of politeness, however, is often determined by the speaker's tone of voice.

Example          :

Would you pass the salt (please)?
Will you (please) pass the salt?

B. Could you ...?

Basically, could you and would you have the same meaning. The difference is slight.
Would you = Do you want to do this please?
Could you = Do you want to do this please, and Is it possible for you to do this?
Could you and would you are equally polite.

Example          :

Could you pass the salt (please)?

C. Can you ...?

Can you is often used informally. It usually sounds less polite than could you or would you.

Example          :

Can you (please) pass the salt?

D. Response

A person usually responds in the affirmative to a polite request. If a negative response is necessary,a person might begin by saying "I'd like to, but...." (e.g I'd like to pass the salt, but I can't reach it").

Example          :

Yes, I'd ( I would ) be happy to
Yes, I'd ( I would ) be glad to.
Certainly
Sure. (informal)