Language Functions

2025年09月26日

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Language Functions

Asking Questions Politely

In a conversation,the one who asks questions usually controls the conversation.So if we want to keep a conversation going in the direction we want it to go,we can ask questions like this:

Can you tell me how your company got floated?

Could you tell me…?

Would you tell me…?

Do you happen to know…?

Excuse me.I want to know about…

Sorry to trouble you,but could you tell me…?

Could I have some information on…?

If we want to have more information,we can use the following question techniques:

Could you tell me a bit more about your marketing strategy?

Could you give me some more details about…?

Sorry to press you,but could you give me some more information

about…?

Something else I’d like to know is…

Sorry,that’s not what I meant.What I really wanted to know

was…

To encourage people to talk willingly,we need to be polite and put out questions tactfully.Here are some useful openings expressions that can lead up to questions:

I wonder if you could tell me how you handled the first six

months after you were discharged from your post.

I was wondering if you could help me.I’d like to know…

This may sound a stupid question,but I’d like to know…

Excuse me,do you happen to know…

Would you mind telling me…

I hope you don’t mind my asking,but I’d like to know…

Delaying Answers

When people ask us a question,we are not always ready or willing to give an answer.We may often need to delay our answer while we think for a moment or check on our facts.The following are some useful techniques for delaying answering a question:

Well now…

Well,let me see…

Um,how should I put it…

Oh,let me think for a moment…

I’m not so sure,I’ll just have to find out…

That’s a very interesting question…

If you don’t want to answer the question at all,you can use expressions like these:

I’m not really sure.

I can’t tell you off-hand,I’m afraid.

I’m terribly sorry,I really don’t know.

I have no idea,I’m afraid.

I can’t answer that one,but I’ll tell you where you can find out.

I’d rather not answer that,if you don’t mind.

Hesitating

Hesitation is a natural part of using a language,whether you are a native speaker or a learner of a foreign language.In a conversation the worst way to hesitate is with silence,because silence causes embarrassment and confusion.Silence also lets other people talk rather than you.To avoid all this,we can use hesitation devices,which help us organize our ideas and decide how to express them.Here are some useful hesitation devices:

well

actually

in fact

I mean

you see

you know

the thing is

how shall I put it…

let’s see now

it’s like this,you see

sort of

kind of

the lengthened to theee

a lengthened to ayyy

to lengthened to tooo

Making a Request

From time to time we want to ask someone to do something for us.While some of the English expressions are polite on some occasions,others are likely to be rude in some particular cases.The following are some of the proper expressions we may use to make a request:

You couldn’t lend me some money,could you?

Do you think you could…?

Will you please…?

Would you please…?

Can you possibly…?

Could you possibly…?

Would you mind doing something for me?

I wonder if you could….

Would you be so kind as to…?

I would be very grateful if you could…

Do you think you could possibly…?

I’d appreciate it very much if you could…

I’d be grateful if you could…

I’d regard it as a favor if you could…

I hope you don’t mind my asking,but I wonder if it might be

at all possible for you to carry my luggage.

Positive Responses

When we are able and/or willing to say yes to a request,we can give a brief,positive response like this:

Absolutely/Certainly/OK/Sure.

Why,yes,of course.

By all means.

All right/No problem.

Here you are.

Go ahead,please.

I’ll be glad to.

Negative Responses

Sometimes we are not always in a position to satisfy other people’s requests.When we have to turn down a request,we must be careful and polite.In order to avoid hurting the listener’s feelings,we may give an excuse called“little white lie”,which should not involve serious or obvious lying.Here are some useful expressions:

Sorry,I’m very busy.

Well,I’m afraid I have to attend a meeting.

I’m sorry,but I have to ...

You see,I’m on a very tight schedule.Very sorry.

I’d like to,but I’m working on a research project.

I’d really like to help you,but…

I’m awfully sorry,but you see…

I wish I could,but I’m all tied up right now.

I’d like to say yes,but…

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