0
4.me Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary

"Could you please...?"

My colleagues often use the following expression: “Could you please… (e.g., submit the requested data by the end of the day)?” I would like to know whether this expression could be used in formal English. And do we need to use “?” at the end of the sentence?
  

Top answer

Hello, Yes, this can be used in formal English because it is a polite request. " is necessary because it follows a question. Hope this helps!

— Elizabeth11

  • Hello, Yes, this can be used in formal English because it is a polite request.
  • " is necessary because it follows a question.
  • Hope this helps!
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

7 Answers
0
Hello,

Yes, this can be used in formal English because it is a polite request. The "?" is necessary because it follows a question.

Hope this helps!
0
0
Thank you!

But wouldn't it be better to say "Could you...?" without "please"?
0
0
It's a tricky one. Technically, you are correct. The "please" doesn't actually make sense if you interpret the "Could you" literally, that is, as a straightforward query of ability (e.g. "Are you able to submit this data by the end of the day?"). The addition of the "please" means that the statement wasn't actually a query of ability at all, but a subtle and indirect form of request.
0
0
Thank you very much! Emotion: smile
0
0
The phrase 'could you' includes 'please' in itself. Thus, writing 'please' would lead to redundancy.
0
0
Including 'please' makes the request more polite. It's very natural.

Broadly speaking, I think most learners of English do not realize how often 'please' is used in everyday English.

Clive
0

Related Questions