Today we will learn how to make polite requests in Spanish by using certain Spanish verbs or set expressions. Our Spanish school, El Rincón del Tándem, provides you with some useful tips in this post. Take a look! 😊
Today we deal with a very important topic; that is, expressing oneself politely, when making requests.
There are some verb moods and set expressions in Spanish that you should use in order not to sound rude when asking someone for something or to make your request more formal.
Therefore, let’s learn together how to “soften” a request in Spanish, by putting into practice the tips below:
1. Using specific forms of the verb, like
– Spanish verbs querer, poder y gustar – Conditional mood
- Querría saber a qué hora abre el museo = I would like to know what time the museum opens
- ¿Podrías pasarme la sal, por favor? = Could you pass me the salt, please?
- Me gustaría que vinieras a recogerme en el aeropuerto = I would like you to come and pick me up at the airport
– Verb querer – Imperfect subjunctive mood. It is commonly used to express wishes and making polite requests
Quisiera un kilo de manzanas y dos de peras = I would like one kilo of apples and two kilos of pears
-Spanish Verbs in Imperative mood, preceded by polite expressions like por favor.
- Por favor, tome nota de este número = Please, write down this number
- Por favor, apague la luz antes de salir = Please turn off the light before leaving
2. Using set polite expressions to make our request more formal and polite. Like:
- Siento molestarte/le
- Si no es mucha molestia
- Si no te/le importa
- Perdona que te/le moleste
- Sería/s tan amable de
- Te/le importaría
Let’s see some sentences with these set expressions:
- ¿Sería usted tan amable de abrirme la puerta? = Would you be so kind as to open the door for me?
- ¿Te importaría prestarme tu bicicleta? = Would you mind lending me your bike?
- Si no es mucha molestia, ¿podría explicarme de nuevo cómo llegar a la catedral? = If it is not too much trouble, could you explain again how to get to the cathedral?
FInally, let’s take a look at some simple ways to answer politely to people’s requests:
When the answer is positive, we say:
Claro = Of course
Por supuesto = For sure
No tengo ningún inconveniente = I have no objection
Cuente con ello = Count on it
Faltaría más
Sí, con mucho gusto = Yeas, with pleasure
When the answer is negative, we say:
Perdone, no puedo ayudarle = Sorry, I can’t help you
Los siento mucho pero no puedo ayudarle = I am really sorry, but I can’t help you
Le pido disculpa, pero no puedo ayudarle = I apologise, but I cannot help you
Me gustaría ayudarle, pero no puedo = I’d like to help, but I can’make request
We hope that this article helps you make polite requests in Spanish 😊
Finally, we remind you that our Spanish school, El Rincón del Tándem, is happy to provide you with Spanish courses in a cozy place here in Valencia, where you can study Spanish by having fun and making new friends.
¡Hasta pronto!
