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Conditionals for Polite Requests
The rule
French uses the conditional for polite requests — and so does English. But French speakers often get the structure wrong.
Pourriez-vous m'envoyer le rapport ?
→ Standard polite. Your default — use 80% of the time.
Seriez-vous en mesure de l'envoyer d'ici vendredi ?
→ Slightly more formal. Implies you know it might be difficult.
Je me demandais si vous pourriez jeter un œil.
→ Very soft. Past tense adds distance = more polite. Perfect for favours.
Je vous serais reconnaissant(e) si vous pouviez confirmer.
→ Polite but firm. Adds deadline without being pushy.
The politeness ladder
Direct: "Send me the report." (too blunt)
Standard: "Could you send me the report?"
Soft: "I was wondering if you could send me the report."
Firm: "I'd appreciate it if you could send the report by Friday."
Common mistake
"Can you send me..." — "can" is ability, not politeness. "Could you..." is polite. Also avoid "I would like that you send..." — say "I'd like you to send..."
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Fix these French-influenced restaurant phrases:
- ‘I take the salmon, please.’
- ‘Can we have the addition?’
- ‘I am allergic at nuts.’
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