If you don't want to sound rude and impolite when asking someone to do something, you need to know how to make a request in a polite way. In this lesson, you will learn several common ways to make polite requests in Spanish and the equivalent of would like, may, and can in Spanish.
How to make polite requests in Spanish?
Querer
The imperfect subjunctive form of "querer", "quisiera" is a common colloquial way to make polite requests in Spanish. It can be translated as "I would like" in English.
The normal sequence of tenses also applies. This means that when "quisiera" is followed by a conjugated verb, the following verb must be in an imperfect subjunctive form. You can use other forms of "querer" in statement or question form.
For examples:
Quisiera unas manzanas - I would like some apples
Quiero dos manzanas - I want two apples
Gustaría
Verbs like gustar can also be used in the conditional form, "gustaría" to make gently requests.
For example:
Me gustarían dos manzanas - I would like two apples
Me gustaría que estudiaras - I would like you to study
Poder
Poder means "to be able" or "can" in English. It can be used as a question in the conditional (podría) or imperfect indicative tense in Spanish.
For example:
¿Usted Podría ir a la tienda a comprar esto? - Could you go to the store to buy this?
Note: You will sound more formal and polite if you use "usted" to ask for something in Spanish.
A ver si
This phrase can be translated as "let's see if" in English. It can be used to make the gentlest requests.
For example:
A ver si comamos juntos un día - Let's eat together some day
Say "Would you mind" in Spanish
You can use the equivalent phrases for "Would you mind ___?" to make requests in Spanish:
- ¿Te importaría + action?
- ¿Te molestaría + action?
- ¿Quisieras + action?
- ¿Te gustaría + action?
Note: The indirect object pronoun "te" could be replaced by "le" (formal, singular) or "les" (formal, plural).
For examples:
¿Le importaría mover su auto? (formal) - Would you mind moving your car?
See also: Spanish common words and phrases in formal letters
Say "please" in Spanish
You can also use the adverbial phrase "por favor" (please) or the verb phrase "hágame el favor de" (do me the favor of). "Por favor" is often placed after a request. Though, it can also come before.
For example:
Otra taza de té, por favor - Another cup of tea, please
Por favor, no dejes escribirme - Please, don't quit writing to me
You can easily turn the command into a question by adding "por favor" at the end of the question. It sounds more polite.
For example:
¿Puedes cerrar la puerta, por favor? Can you close the door, please?
¿Usted puede abrirme la puerta, por favor? - May you open the door for me please?
How to respond to polite requests?
Affirmative responses
- Sí, con mucho gusto - Yes, with pleasure
- Por supuesto - Of course
- Como no - Certainly sure
Negative responses
- Lo siento, no puedo - I’m sorry, I can’t.
- Lamentablemente, no puedo - Unfortunately, I can´t.
- Me gustaría ayudar, pero no puedo - I’d like to help, but I can’t.
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