can/could, question mark

I think one of the few rules in English is that any question that contains an "always" will be answered with a "no."

In your examples, only #1 seems like a genuine question, and would have a ?

#2 is clearly an order, no matter how politley phrased, and would have a .

#3 could be either, depending on whether you are genuinely asking, or ordering politely.

Anonymous
1) Could you help me with the following. (a question mark needed as it is a request)

2) Can you get on with your work, please. (no question mark needed as it is an order)

3) Could you move to another desk. (no comma needed as it is an instruction/order)

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Hmmm. I think I would have put a question mark on all three.
CJ

Hi,

Like CJ, I'd be inclined to put a '?' after each of the three.
The whole point of phrasing an order/instruction in this way is, for the sake of politeness, to disguise it (at least thinly) as a question.

Best wishes, Clive

A 'request' that is spoken in a flat tone, like an instruction, and functions as a piece of advice rather than as a request.

Could you pass me that piece of cake, please.

Would everyone wishing to visit the Doge's palace please assemble on the right.

(The Right Word at the Right Time)

Interesting. Yes, I can see how those sentences could be spoken in a flat tone, but personally, I use the voice inflection of a question by preference when I say them!

That's why I thought only the first one was a genuine question.