0
Annvan Posted 19 years ago
Culture

question about U.S. politeness

0 The following question was part of a quiz on British politeness: 02br
02br
00True or false: You want to borrow a friend's bicycle this evening. A polite way to ask would be "Will you be using your bicycle this evening?" 02br
00Answer: true02br
02br
00A Dutch student asked me if this was also true in the U.S. I've no idea! Your help would be most appreciated! 0-
  

Top answer

0-

— Mister Micawber

  • 0-
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.

8 Answers
0
0Well, it is a polite enough way to initiate a conversation about the possibility of borrowing the bike.0-
0
0
0 From my experience , and of course without any bias ,I think it is better to focusss on British English when in comes to requesting politely. Amercans could be able to borrow the English peoples languae , but borrwing their etiquette and manners seeme to be hard for them to pull off. 0-
0
0
0 Like Mister Micawber said, I think that would be a perfectly fine way of introducing the subject. I would not, however, leave it at that and assume that the person would know you mean to borrow the bicycle. Americans tend to be a bit more direct than that. Most likely they'd expect to hear something like, "Would you mind if I borrowed your bicycle?" or simply, "May I please borrow your bicy
0
0
0 Really I can't see any problem with asking that way. It sounds polite enough for me, and it's a good way of starting a conversation. 0-
0
0
0 Thanks so much for all your help everyone! 0-
0
0
0I think if someone said to me:02br
02br
001. "Will you be using your bicycle this evening?" 02br
02br
00I'd automatically reply:02br
02br
002. "No, why? Did you want to borrow it?"02br
02br
00(If I had a bicycle.)02br
02br
00So yes, it does seem to work, in practice; in BrE at least.02br
0
0
0 Hi,02br
00in Italian it would be: 02br
00- Do you need your bike this evening?02br
00- No, I don't think I'll need it...02br
00- Because I need a bike to <insert a reason>... Could I borrow your bike, please?02br
02br
00That would be the way to borrow a bike. A bike, but not my bicycle. My bicycle can't be borrowed in an
0
0
0 Haha Kooyeen! 02br
00... In that case, will you be using your Lamborghini this evening? 0-
0

Related Questions