| Commands and Requests | |
| Part 3: Polite Requests | |
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Following are some of the most common ways of making polite requests in Spanish.
Querer: Although it may seem grammatically illogical, the imperfect subjunctive form of querer (usually translated in this context as "I would like"), quisiera, is a common, colloquial way of stating wishes and making polite requests. The normal sequence of tenses applies, so when quisiera is followed by a conjugated verb, the following verb must be in an imperfect subjunctive form. Other forms of querer including the present and conditional tenses also can be used in either statement or question form.
Examples: Quisiera dos manzanas. (I would like two apples.) Quisiera comer ahora. (I would like to eat now.) Quisiera que salieras. (I would like you to leave.) Quiero dos manzanas. (I want two apples.) Quiero comer ahora. (I want to eat now.) Quiero que salgas. (I want you to leave.) ¿Quieres darme dos manzanas? (Do you want to give me two apples?) ¿Querrías darme dos manzanas? (Would you like to give me two apples?)Gustaríá: The verb gustar (often translated as "to be pleasing") can similarly be used in the conditional form, gustaría, to make gently worded requests. (See the lesson on using gustar if you are uncertain of how it is used grammatically.)
Examples: Me gustaría que estudies. (I would like you to study.) Me gustarían dos manzanas. (I would like two apples.) ¿Te gustaría darme dos manzana? (Would you like to give me two apples?)
Poder: This verb meaning "to be able" or the auxiliary verb "can" can be used as a question in the conditional or imperfect tenses.
Examples: ¿Podrías darme dos manzanas? (Could you give me two apples?) ¿Podías darme dos manzanas? (Could you give me two apples?)A ver: The phrase a ver si, sometimes misspelled as haber si, which is identical in pronunciation, can be used to form the gentlest of requests. Although it is close in meaning to the English "let's see if," it can be translated in a variety of ways.
Examples: A ver si estudias más. (Perhaps you could study more.) A ver si comamos juntos un día. (Let's eat together some day.) A ver si tocas el piano. (Let's see if you can play the piano.)Note on "please": The most common ways of saying "please" are the adverbial phrase por favor and the verb phrase hágame el favor de (literally, "do me the favor of"). Although you are unlikely to be criticized for overusing por favor, its usage does vary with region. In some areas its use is expected, while in others it might not commonly be used when asking someone to do something that he or she is expected to do (as when ordering a meal from a waiter). And remember too that tone of voice can have as much to do with how a request is received as its grammatical form can.
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