Do you know how to talk to others politely in English? Learn how to avoid being rude with this great guide!
Could you give me five minutes? VS Go away.
You're really busy at work, but your co- worker needs your help. When you're busy and can't attend to anything else, just saying “Go away. ”is definitely not right. Instead, keep everyone happy by using the sentence “Could you give me five minutes?".
Excuse me. VS Move.
Telling someone to “Move out of the way.” is very rude. The next time someone is in your way, saying “Excuse me.” will get the result you want without causing trouble!
I'm afraid I can't. vs No.
It can often be difficult to decline an invitation from a friend. Simply saying “No.” would be impolite. The next time you have to refuse an invitation, you'd better say “I'm afraid I can't.”
I would like ... vs I want
It's often considered rude to request something using the words “I want" . Instead of “I want a cup of coffee”, try telling a waiter, “I'd like a cup of coffee, please.” You'll get your coffee and a smile too!
Would you mind ... ? vs Stop it!
Someone is doing something you don't like, and perhaps is rude. Would you like him or her to stop? To get the desired result, rather than shouting “Stop talking on your phone in the cinema!", ask him or her politely by saying “Would you mind not using your phone in the cinema, please?".
