Week 6, Day 3: Making Polite Requests Copy

Frederic

MAKING POLITE REQUESTS

It is always a good idea to use good manners when speaking to people, much more so when asking them to do something for you. In today’s lesson, we are going to learn about making polite requests in French and have a go at practicing these new skills.

The most common way to make a polite request in French is to use the expression “Je voudrais… ” This will let the other person know what you would like to do, know, or have. We follow “Je voudrais” with a noun or infinitive.

Listen to Week 6 Day 3 Track 1

And look at the examples below:

• Je voudrais un café. - I would like a coffee.

• Je voudrais réserver une chambre. - I would like to book a room.

Speaking Practice 1

Listen to Week 6 Day 3 Track 2

“S’il te plait/s’il vous plait” is an expression that literally translates as “if it pleases you,” but it is generally used to mean “please” in French. “S’il vous plait” is the extremely polite version and is used in formal situations or with people you do not know; “s’il te plait” tends to be used in less formal situations and with people you know. Just as in English, this expression should be added at the end of a request.

Example:

• Je voudrais un café, s’il vous plait - I would like a coffee, please.

• Je suis désolé: You use this to say sorry, and also to say that you feel sorry about something.

Dialogue

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Making Polite Request

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Speaking Practice 2

A Quick Recap of this Lesson

Today’s lesson is all about making polite requests in French. We learned about two ways to request politely using the following expressions:

"Je voudrais...": this translates to either “I would like to do/know/have).” "Je voudrais" is followed by a noun or infinitive.
“S'il vous plait”: can be literally translated as “if it pleases you,” but simply means “please" in French. This is very formal.
"S’il te plait": the less formal version of "s’il vous plait" and may be used among close friends or familiar company.