英語中有許多客氣或委婉的說法。學英語時要特別小心，多多體會，才不會冒失，給人不好的印象。

　　下面（1）a-（5）a是不客氣的話語；（1）b-（5）b則變為委婉：

　　（1） 你要什么？

　　a. What do you want?

　　b. Can I help you? / Is there anything I can do for you?/ Can I be of any help to you?

　　（2） 我想問你一個問題。

　　a. I want to ask you a question.

　　b. I would like to ask you a ques-tion./ May I ask you a question?

　　（3） 你遇見我的朋友嗎？Have you ever met my friend?

　　a. No, I havent.

　　b. I dont think I have./ I am afraid I have.

　　（4） 你想出去嗎？Would you like to go out?

　　a. No, I wouldnt.

　　b. No, I dont think I would./ I dont think so.

　　（5） 你現在有空嗎？Are you free now?

　　a. No, I am not.

　　b. I am afraid I have an appoint-ment this afternoon.

　　除了上述這些較固定的委婉口語之外，還有其他表示委婉的方法，如（6）b到（13）b：

　　（一）多用疑問句，如：

　　（6） a. Shut the door, please.

　　　　　b. Would you please shut the door?

　　（7） a. I suggest that you go?

　　　　　b. May I suggest that you go?

　　（二）多用情態動詞（Modal verbs），特別是過去式，如：

　　（8） a. I want a cup of tea.

　　　　　b. I would like to have a cup of tea. / Could I have a cup of tea?

　　（9） a. I think you are making a mistake.

　　　　　b. I should have thought you were making a mistake.

　　（三）用動詞的過去式，如：

　　（10） a. Do you want to see me?

　　　 　　b. Did you want to see me?

　　（11） a. I wonder if you will give me a hand?

　　　 　　b. I wondered if you would give me a hand?

　　（12） a. I will appreciate it if you can approve my application.

　　　 　　b. I would appreciate it if you could approve my application.

　　（13） a. I am wondering if you will give me some advice.

　　　 　　b. I was wondering if you would give me some advice.

　　英語中有許多客氣或委婉的說法。學英語時要特別小心，多多體會，才不會冒失，給人不好的印象。

　　下面（1）a-（5）a是不客氣的話語；（1）b-（5）b則變為委婉：

　　（1） 你要什么？

　　a. What do you want?

　　b. Can I help you? / Is there anything I can do for you?/ Can I be of any help to you?

　　（2） 我想問你一個問題。

　　a. I want to ask you a question.

　　b. I would like to ask you a ques-tion./ May I ask you a question?

　　（3） 你遇見我的朋友嗎？Have you ever met my friend?

　　a. No, I havent.

　　b. I dont think I have./ I am afraid I have.

　　（4） 你想出去嗎？Would you like to go out?

　　a. No, I wouldnt.

　　b. No, I dont think I would./ I dont think so.

　　（5） 你現在有空嗎？Are you free now?

　　a. No, I am not.

　　b. I am afraid I have an appoint-ment this afternoon.

　　除了上述這些較固定的委婉口語之外，還有其他表示委婉的方法，如（6）b到（13）b：

　　（一）多用疑問句，如：

　　（6） a. Shut the door, please.

　　　　　b. Would you please shut the door?

　　（7） a. I suggest that you go?

　　　　　b. May I suggest that you go?

　　（二）多用情態動詞（Modal verbs），特別是過去式，如：

　　（8） a. I want a cup of tea.

　　　　　b. I would like to have a cup of tea. / Could I have a cup of tea?

　　（9） a. I think you are making a mistake.

　　　　　b. I should have thought you were making a mistake.

　　（三）用動詞的過去式，如：

　　（10） a. Do you want to see me?

　　　 　　b. Did you want to see me?

　　（11） a. I wonder if you will give me a hand?

　　　 　　b. I wondered if you would give me a hand?

　　（12） a. I will appreciate it if you can approve my application.

　　　 　　b. I would appreciate it if you could approve my application.

　　（13） a. I am wondering if you will give me some advice.

　　　 　　b. I was wondering if you would give me some advice.