Do you vs. Would you

Question

A. Do you mind telling me where the station at is, please?B. Would you mind telling me where the station at is, please?1.  I understand both A and B are polite forms, but what is the difference between 'do you' and 'would you' above?  Is one more polite than the other?C. Do you happen to know where the station at is, please?D. Would you happen to know where the station at is, please?2.  Again, what is the difference between 'do you' and 'would you' in this example?3.  Since A, B, C and D are all polite, do 'mind' and 'happen to' mean the same?4.  Is using 'please' at the end of the 'do you' statements correct?  It seems not right to my ears.Please help.  I would be very grateful.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

In all your examples, you need to delete the word 'at'.

eg . . . where the station at is

Some people sometimes say

eg . . . where the station is at

but this is substandard English.

A. Do you mind telling me where the station at is, please?

B. Would you mind telling me where the station at is, please?

1. I understand both A and B are polite forms, but what is the difference between 'do you' and 'would you' above? Is one more polite than the other?

'Would you' is more polite. It's less direct. It makes the question seem more conditional, more hypothetical.

eg (If I wasted your valuable time by asking you a stupid question) would you mind telling me . . .

C. Do you happen to know where the station at is, please?

D. Would you happen to know where the station at is, please?

2. Again, what is the difference between 'do you' and 'would you' in this example? Same comment.

3. Since A, B, C and D are all polite, do 'mind' and 'happen to' mean the same?

These are two very similar ways of making my question 'softer', more polite.

Would you mind = Would it bother you to answer . . . ?

Would you happen to = Would you know by chance, ie please don't put any effort into answering my question.

4. Is using 'please' at the end of the 'do you' statements correct? It seems not right to my ears.

It's fine. It's commonly said.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Clive,

Thank you for your correction and explanation of the difference. I really appreciate that.

I also believe that 'do you' and 'would you' are both present in meaning, although 'would you' is in past form. Nevertheless, is it OK to use 'do you' that I would still souind polite?

If I omitted 'happen to' and 'mind' as follows, would I still sound polite because of 'would' form?

Would you know where the station is?
Would you tell me where the station is?

I ask because I want to learn polite English. Thank you.
Incidentally, is it correct to use 'ask' as underlined above? Or I should have written 'I asked because I want to...' because I am done writing my questions? Or should I write 'I've asked..'? Sorry I'm confused.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I also believe that 'do you' and 'would you' are both present in meaning, although 'would you' is in past form. Nevertheless, is it OK to use 'do you' that I would still souind polite? Yes, but say 'please'.

If I omitted 'happen to' and 'mind' as follows, would I still sound polite because of 'would' form?

Would you know where the station is? Sounds very formal.

Would you tell me where the station is? Sounds a bit awkward, a bit like you are begging humbly.

Always remember to say 'please'.

I ask because I want to learn polite English. Thank you.

Incidentally, is it correct to use 'ask' as underlined above? Or I should have written 'I asked because I want to...' because I am done writing my questions? Or should I write 'I've asked..'? Sorry I'm confused. Both are OK.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

I'm learning here and I'm happy. Thanks.

CliveSorry I'm confused. Both are OK.

If I'm not mistaken, 'both' means only two choices. Just to clarify, which two below are you referring to?

I ask because I want to learn polite English.
I asked because I want to learn polite English.
I've asked because I want to learn polite English.

In addition, can I also say:

I'm asking because I want to learn polite English.

How is the -ing form different from the simple present?
If you were me, which tense would you use in the context, that is writing it at the end of your post?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

I said 'both' because I mistakenly thought you were asking about two tenses. I see now that you were asking about three.

They are all OK, broadly speaking.

At the end of a thread, it's a bit confusing if you start asking questions about how you have asked questions. Please start a new thread if you have new questions.

Thanks,

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Clive,

I see all are possible.

OK, I will start a new thread for these questions.

Thanks so much.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Clive,

How are you?

I'd like to go back to this for some follow-up questions, if you wouldn't mind. Please advise. Thanks.

CliveWould you tell me where the station is? Sounds a bit awkward, a bit like you are begging humbly.
Always remember to say 'please'.

If I changed 'would' to 'could' as below, would it also sound a bit like I am begging humbly?
Could you tell me where the station is, please?

How is 'would' different in meaning from 'could' in the above example?

Another example, do you think 'Would you agree?' sounds like you are begging for someone to agree? Or is it simply a polite way of saying it? If it sounds like I'm begging, should I just use 'Do you agree'?

Clive · Answer

Hi,

How are you? Fine, thanks.

I'd like to go back to this for some follow-up questions, if you wouldn't mind. Please advise. Thanks.

Clive

“Would you tell me where the station is? Sounds a bit awkward, a bit like you are begging humbly.
Always remember to say 'please'.”

If I changed 'would' to 'could' as below, would it also sound a bit like I am begging humbly? No, sounds OK.

Could you tell me where the station is, please?

How is 'would' different in meaning from 'could' in the above example?

would - are you willing to

could - are you able to

Another example, do you think 'Would you agree?' sounds like you are begging for someone to agree? Or is it simply a polite way of saying it? It's a polite and some what ormal way to say it.

If it sounds like I'm begging, it doesn't should I just use 'Do you agree'? This is more common.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks, Clive. I believe you've covered all I wanted to know about the topic and I'm happy about that.

All the best to you.

Gigi99 · Answer

Hi,

what is the meaning of begging humble?

does it mean just being humble?

would you explain it for me please?

thanks alot

Do you vs. Would you

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