Please sit down.

In many situations, however, the imperative with "please" is not considered polite enough.

Then we use one of thefollowingphrases (said with the rising tone) which are given below in orderof increasing politeness (formality).

Will you... (please)?

eg Will you help me, (please)?

Would/Could you … (please) ?

eg Would/Could you tell me the time? (please) ?

Do you think you could ... ?

eg Do you think you could ^'come later?

Would you mind +ing .. . ?

eg Would you mind waiting a moment?

Will/ Would you be so kind as to + inf. ?

eg Will/Would you be so kind as to show me the way?

The choice between the phrases depends on:

1.How large the request is ( and therefore how much trouble(беспокойство) or inconvenience (неудобство) it will cause(причинять).

eg Will you pass(передать) the salt, please?

Would уou mind posting the letter for me?

2. How well we know the person we ask. Thus the same request may be formulated with different degrees of politeness.

eg a. Open the window, please.

b. Will you open the window?

c. Would you open the window?

d. Would you mind opening the window?

e. Would you be so kind as to open the window?

The usual positive replies are:

(Yes),certainly - formal

eg - Will you help me, please.

- Yes, certainly.

(Yes), of course - semi-formal, informal

eg - Will you come tomorrow?

- Yes, of course.

All right - expressing a lesser degree of willingness (готовность)

eg - D'you think you could come earlier?

-All right.

OK - informal

eg - Call me tonight, please.

- OK

(Yes), here you are - when handing (passing) someone something he has asked for

eg - Will you pass the salt, please?

-Here you are.

Not at all

Not in the least in reply to "Would you mind ...?"

A bit

eg - Would you mind waiting a moment?

-Not at all

The usual negative replies are:

I'm afraid I can't - formal, semi-formal

eg - Could you tell me the time, please?

- I’m afraid I can’t. I have no watch.

(I’m) sorry. I can’t - semi-formal, informal.

eg - Will you call me tonight?

-(I’m) sorry, I can't. I’ll be busy.

No. I can't/won't - a point-blank (резкий, категоричный) refusal.

eg -Will you help me?

-No, I won’t. You have to do it yourself.