Polite English: 4 Easy Changes You Can Make

Do you ever wonder if you sound polite enough in English?

Today, I'm going to show you four small changes that you can make to sound better in personal

situations or professional situations, okay?

It doesn't matter where in the world you are or who you're speaking to, these small changes

will help you to sound like a nicer, kinder, and more respectful person, alright?

So, let's see what we can do.

So, here, let's start with sentences that you say.

So, very often, we tend to start sentences by saying "I want", but what we should do

instead of saying "I want" is to say "I would like", or the shortened version with the contraction,

"I'd like", alright?

Why?

Why should we not say "I want"?

Because it sounds a little more childish and sometimes it can sound like you're angry,

like "I want my money back".

There is a time and a place to use "I want", but not generally, okay?

So, for example, you should say "I would like to order a pizza", okay?

I would like to meet you at this time, okay?

I would like a sandwich, not "I want", okay?

I would like.

Or "I'd like".

Now, "I'd like", if you're choosing to say that, make sure you're saying the "d", "I'd

like", because otherwise, it sounds like "I like", and that is a different meaning, okay?

I would like.

I would like some coffee, please, okay?

I would like something to drink, alright?

So, those are the sentences.

Very easy change.

Instead of saying this, say "I would like", alright?

If we go to the other side for questions, it's the same words, same kind of changes.

Instead of saying "Do you want", when you're asking someone, say "What would you like?"

We can use this "would you like" phrase for when we're offering something or when we're

inviting someone.

Let me explain to you.

For example, suppose I have a plate here with some lovely cookies, and I could say "Would

you like some cookies?"

Or "Would you like some cake?", "Would you like a sandwich?", "Would you like something

to drink?", "Would you like something to eat?", okay?

I could be offering a thing, or I could be arranging to meet you somewhere.

I could say "Would you like to meet at 3 o'clock or 5 o'clock?", okay?

Or we could be setting up a place where we meet.

Would you like to meet at the coffee shop or at the mall, okay?

So, you can use this to make all kinds of offers.

You can also use this to invite someone, right?

Like I said, "Would you like to - would you like to come over for lunch?", "Would you

like to see a movie?", okay?

We're inviting someone.

So, anytime you feel like saying "Do you want", start making that switch to "Would you like".

You'll be 100% right, and wherever you go, you'll be 100% polite, alright?

So, that's it.

I would like - would you like, alright?

Next, instead of using the sentence - in a sentence, the words "I can", change it to

"I could", okay?

So, for example, "I could pick you up at the airport."

Instead of saying "I can", it has the same meaning, but it's much, much more polite to

say "I could", okay?

I could pick you up.

I could help you, okay?

I could send you the report by this time, alright?

Sounds more professional, sounds more polite, and it will be appreciated wherever you are,

alright?

That's one.

Next, the same word, but in a question.

So, you could say "Can I", but usually we don't say "Can I" as much as "Can you".

So, instead of saying "Can you send me the report tonight?", you say "Could you".

Could you send me the report by Friday, right?

It sounds much more polite when you're asking someone something, okay?

Could you meet me at 3 o'clock?

Could you meet me on Wednesday, alright?

So, "can you" becomes "what", "could you", and "I can" becomes "I could".

Now, if you're in a hurry, this is the main part of it, okay?

But, if you can stay on, you will have a chance to really lock this in, and we will

do some practice now using these polite expressions.

Here we have some sentences and questions.

Let's replace the ordinary words with more polite words.

Number one.

Do you want some help?

So, what can we change here?

"Do you want" becomes "would you like".

Would you like some help?

You can repeat it after me if it helps you, because it will definitely help you to say

it, to hear it, so that you get very accustomed to and used to using these expressions, alright?

Number two.

Can you repeat that, please?

What are we changing?

This part.

Instead of "can you", we could say "what".

Could you.

Could you repeat that, please?

Good.

Number three.

I want a large pizza, please.

Again, not wrong.

Let's make it more polite, though.

What could you say instead of "I want"?

You could say "I'd like".

I'd like a large pizza, please.

Now, here, because it seems like a very informal situation, we could use that contraction,

right?

"I'd like" instead of "I would like", but whichever way you change it, it would sound

more polite, alright?

Number four.

What do you want to do?

So, now you see that "do you want" is not always at the beginning of the question.

It might be inside the question, like here.

What do you want to do?

So, instead of saying "what do you want", what could we say instead?

What?

What would you like to do?

What would you like to do today?

Okay?

So, remember that it can be inside a question as well, not just at the beginning.

Number five.

Can you elaborate?

Now, I put this word in here because I think this is a very useful question.

In case you're not sure what this word means, let's think about it for a second.

You're at a lecture, and then the speaker has a question and answer session, and you

didn't understand a point, and the speaker explains, and then you say, "Can you elaborate?"

Or "Can you elaborate on that?"

But instead of saying, "Can you elaborate?", we say, "Could you elaborate?"

And "elaborate" means, "Could you please speak more about that?

Could you please explain that a little bit more?"

So, to elaborate means to say more, to explain more, and so on, to make something clearer.

So, it's much more polite in those kind of situations or in a business meeting, right?

Somebody is making a suggestion or a proposal, and you'd like more information, so you could

say very, very politely and very professionally, "Could you elaborate on that a little?

Could you elaborate, please?"

Alright?

So, learn that word and learn the pronunciation, learn to use it in your writing.

Could you elaborate, please?

Could you elaborate on that?

Good.

Next, instead of "We want a taxi, please", which sounds like an order almost, right?

It's not how you want to speak.

You want to come across very kind and polite.

You say, "We would like - we would like a taxi, please."

Or once again, here, it seems like an informal situation, so you could say, "We'd like a

taxi, please.

We'd like a taxi, please."

Okay?

If you need to, you can pause the video and repeat it after me, okay?

Say it yourself, let your ears hear you saying it as well.

Next, "Can I let you know tomorrow?"

Somebody asks you an important question, but you want a little time to think it over, so

you say, "Can I let you know tomorrow?"

But instead of that, how can you make it better?

"Could I let you know tomorrow?

Could I let you know tomorrow?"

Great.

And the last one here, "Where do you want to meet?"

This is an example where this expression "do you want" is embedded inside another question,

right? With "where".

"Where do you want to meet" becomes "Where would you like to meet?

Where would you like to meet?"

Say it after me.

"Where would you like to meet?

When would you like to meet?"

Okay?

And so on and so forth, alright?

So, by making these four small changes, you will sound a lot more professional and a lot

kinder as a human being, alright?

If you'd like some more practice on this, go to our website at www.engvid.com and you

can do a quiz on this, so you can really master it.

You don't need to just listen and then lose it, but listen, watch, and keep it.

That's how you'll keep growing and improving with your English.

And these small changes really make a big difference, okay?

Thanks very much for watching.

Bye for now.