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Conditionals for Polite Requests
10 min
B1
The rule
French uses the conditional for polite requests — and so does English. But French speakers often get the structure wrong.
"Could you send me the report?"
Pourriez-vous m'envoyer le rapport ?
→ Standard polite. Your default — use 80% of the time.
Pourriez-vous m'envoyer le rapport ?
→ Standard polite. Your default — use 80% of the time.
"Would you be able to send it by Friday?"
Seriez-vous en mesure de l'envoyer d'ici vendredi ?
→ Slightly more formal. Implies you know it might be difficult.
Seriez-vous en mesure de l'envoyer d'ici vendredi ?
→ Slightly more formal. Implies you know it might be difficult.
"I was wondering if you could take a look at this."
Je me demandais si vous pourriez jeter un œil.
→ Very soft. Past tense adds distance = more polite. Perfect for favours.
Je me demandais si vous pourriez jeter un œil.
→ Very soft. Past tense adds distance = more polite. Perfect for favours.
"I'd appreciate it if you could confirm by end of day."
Je vous serais reconnaissant(e) si vous pouviez confirmer.
→ Polite but firm. Adds deadline without being pushy.
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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