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PreciousJones Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

Difference between

Could you do me a favor. And

Can you do me a favor.

Is one politer than the other?

What's the difference?
  

Top answer

Hi, The could version is a little more polite, because it makes the request seem less direct, more hypotheticsl, eg (If I asked you to, ) could you do me a favour? Clive

— Clive

  • Hi, The could version is a little more polite, because it makes the request seem less direct, more hypotheticsl, eg (If I asked you to, ) could you do me a favour?
  • Clive
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7 Answers
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Hi,

The could version is a little more polite, because it makes the request seem less direct, more hypotheticsl,

eg (If I asked you to, ) could you do me a favour?

Clive
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What's the difference?
They are, basically, the same.

Is one politer than the other? Is one more polite than the other?
I'd say 'could' is more polite.
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In general, the only thing that would make one more polite than the other would be to add 'please'.
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JohnParisWhat's the difference?They are, basically, the same.Is one politer than the other? Is one more polite than the other?I'd say 'could' is more polite.
Why can't I use politer in this situation?

Thanks.
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PreciousJonesWhy can't I use politer in this situation
Hi Precious Jones

Are you asking whether 'politer' is the wrong word to use and you should use 'more polite' instead? If this is what you mean, I think 'politer' is also the comparative of 'polite'.
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Sorry Precious, I did not mean to imply that 'politer' is incorrect. I was just offering an alternative.
I feel that 'more polite' is more natural, and if you check Clive's and Philip's responses you'll see that they use 'more polite' as well.
'Politer' may be BrE - I don't know. Perhaps a colleague will jump in with an opinion.
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JohnParisSorry Precious, I did not mean to imply that 'politer' is incorrect. I was just offering an alternative.I feel that 'more polite' is more natural, and if you check Clive's and Philips's responses you'll see that they use 'more polite' as well.'Politer' may be BrE - I don't know. Perhaps a colleague will jump in with an opinion.
Hi John

At fir
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