This is the Business English Podcast episode 563.
Could you possibly use this vocabulary to connect in English?
Welcome to the business english podcast.
From all ears english.
Get the english skills you need to achieve your dreams in global business.
For a presentation, a meeting or your office party.
This is real business english, with your favorite american hosts, Lindsay Ann Aubrey, coming to you from Arizona and Colorado, USA.
It's your last chance.
Our new professional English level one course is ready to help you build your fluency and your professional communication skills, to strengthen relationships at work when you socialize, make your ideas heard at meetings and give outstanding presentations.
It all starts with getting into or save up to 100 off the normal price before the price goes up.
Allearsenglishcom slash professional.
And I can't wait to see you in one of our live speaking events.
One more time, go to allearsenglish.com slash P-R-O-F-E-S-S-I-O-N-A-L.
See you there.
Hello, Lindsay.
How are you today?
I'm doing good, Aubrey.
How are you?
How's it going?
I'm great.
Could you possibly record tomorrow too?
Oh, yeah, we can make that happen.
I wanted to ask you a question with could you possibly?
This is a follow up from a recent episode where we were sharing ways to politely make requests.
Stay to the end for details.
You can definitely listen to these out of order.
So we'll share details about that one if you missed it.
And today we're sharing these really polite ways that we ask for favors, we ask for requests.
Yeah, really important to have these skills to do that.
So guys, hit follow.
It's very important to follow the show too.
So you get all three episodes a week dropping into your listening queue.
Make it part of your habit.
People have been able to improve so much just by listening on a regular basis.
Absolutely.
If you're not following, you might miss it if we do two or three part series.
So definitely hit follow so you don't miss part two.
Yeah.
So let's get into it.
Some ways to make a polite request.
So I use the first one when I asked you that question.
Could you possibly this is very polite, slightly tentative.
Right.
For example, you might say, could you possibly send me the updated figures when you have a moment?
So normally, in most cases, you won't add the possibly, right?
Just could you send me the updated figures or can you send me the figures, right?
But sometimes there might be a reason.
Maybe you've pestered them for several things already.
There might be a reason that you want to make it more polite, more tentative.
Yeah.
Or in the case of asking me to record tomorrow.
I actually recorded the podcast on Monday, Tuesday and today.
And so that was a perfect time.
I would need to add the could you possibly.
Right.
So it's whenever you feel slightly uncomfortable asking the question is when we're going to jam in.
Possibly favor, you're asking.
You can feel that you either shouldn't be asking or you're asking a little more than you should.
That's when we add that possibly exactly.
Um, could you possibly take a look at this before the meeting?
Maybe they're rushing to get to the meeting?
Yeah, maybe you were supposed to give it to them three days ago.
So there's a little bit of guilt there that you're now finally giving it to them.
Could you possibly take a look at this still?
And the next one is also a little bit uncomfortable when you ask, right?
You're feeling uncomfortable.
So you need special words.
Like what?
Exactly.
Any way you could.
This is very similar to could you possibly write you?
You know, it's very friendly, casual, but and often common in internal emails as well.
But for some reason you feel uncomfortable like you said, a little awkward about asking.
Then we'll add this
You might say, anyway, you could share the slides ahead of the presentation, right?
You want to see the slides, but you don't have a right to see them.
You're imposing.
And so we add this language.
That's a good point there, Aubrey.
You're imposing it's not your right, and so you're trying to soften.
Any way you could stay a bit longer to discuss next steps, it's not expected that you would do that.
If we're asking someone to stay later.
We're often going to use this kind of verbiage because it's sort of an apology with the request.
Totally.
Or again, another indirect way, would you be able to?
This is polite, confident, professional, but also still a little indirect, a little hesitant.
Exactly.
Instead of can you do this, right?
It would say, do you think or would you be able to send the finalized report before the deadline?
Much less direct than can you do this?
Can you send the report?
Yep, exactly.
Or would you be able to meet briefly this afternoon to go over the budget?
Yeah, when we know how busy someone is, we're trying to respect their schedule.
We might add these extra words.
And it's also giving people an out.
Like you would feel more comfortable saying no when someone has added these extra words is using these phrases because they're implying that they know they're imposing and they're giving you more leeway to say no.
Yes, I love that.
And another one also very indirect.
Do you think you could?
This is tentative.
It's polite.
It's collaborative.
Do you think you could review the draft and share your feedback by tomorrow?
Or do you think you could join the call later to discuss next steps?
So again, the more words we're using here, the less direct it is, because there are many other ways to say this more directly.
Can you join the call later to discuss next steps?
That's the most directive.
Will you join the call?
Right.
That's what we add this.
Yeah.
And I think our listeners are going to love this episode because there really is a need, depending on where you're coming from, what you know about their schedule, what you know about your right to ask that question,
It really matters at the B2C1 level for our listeners.
Exactly right.
This is how we build relationships, respecting others time acknowledging it when we're imposing or asking too much right.
Often we'll see all of these phrases in emails, but we could also say these to someone, right?
You're running past someone's office.
Oh, do you think you could check this for me really quick?
Exactly.
Exactly.
Love that.
What else?
We have one more.
The last one.
This is interesting.
So instead of do you think you could, sometimes we'll say do you think we could, when it's something we would maybe do as a team.
Like, do you think we could push the deadline back by one day when it's something collaborative?
Right.
It's not you so much like we're deciding together whether to do this.
Right.
Or do you think we could explore alternative suppliers?
Yeah.
But an interesting note here is I'm curious if you've ever heard this Lindsay.
Sometimes someone will ask someone to do something that they alone are responsible for by using we.
They might say like, do you think we could have this done by today at five?
When it's me, they're asking me like...
That has been a pet peeve of mine.
Have you ever noticed this?
Oh, I get blamed for this at home all the time.
Do you do this at home?
Just to be fair, I've never noticed you doing this, but I have had people do this.
I'm like, when you say we, you mean me.
I'll call them out on it.
Oh, I say this to my partner all the time.
And I guess I don't, I don't totally realize I'm doing it, but I kind of am doing it.
I say, do you think we really get the laundry done?
Yeah.
We should make sure we get key for a vet appointment.
Right.
And I kind of mean like, can you call?
Yes, you're not alone, Lindsay.
This is very common.
And I think a lot of people do it at home and it's just sort of a habit.
And so then we might accidentally do it at work.
I definitely recommend avoiding this, right?
If you mean you, do you think you could do this?
Don't say we.
Don't say we.
We've gotten into arguments over that.
It's not a good thing.
For sure.
It's not a good thing, but pretty funny, though.
Yeah.
Yeah.
It's time to refresh your yard during spring backyard days at the Home Depot.
Get low prices guaranteed on propane grills starting at one hundred and seventy nine dollars.
Like the next grill, three burner gas grill.
Or get $50 off a select Weber Spirit Grill and bring big flavor to your backyard.
Then set the scene with Hampton Bay String Lights that bring it all together.
Shop spring backyard days for seven days at the Home Depot.
Now through May 6th.
Exclusions apply.
See homedepot.com slash price match for details.
All right.
So let's get into a role play here, Aubrey.
We are coworkers discussing prep for a client presentation.
Really important, right?
Yes.
All right.
Do you think we could go over the deck when you have a moment?
Absolutely.
It's almost done.
Awesome.
Could you possibly send it to me as soon as it's ready?
I'll look it over and then we can meet.
No problem.
Should be done today by noon.
Thanks.
I appreciate it.
Any way you can add a quick summary slide at the beginning?
Yes, no problem.
Nice.
So it's interesting because this could either be a conversation like this or it could be emails back and forth.
Yeah.
Right.
So it's interesting because when you're having a conversation like this, might start feeling strange when you use a few of these.
Yes.
Because you've sort of already implied that you're like, no, that you're asking too much.
Probably by the end, you would just say, if you don't mind, add a quick, that's another one.
If you don't mind, add a quick summary.
That's a good point.
If you really go too hard and heavy in the same conversation, it's going to feel like you're lacking confidence, almost.
Yeah.
Or it's just overkill.
Right.
It's interesting.
But in emails, like if these were emails back and forth, I think it would be normal because it's like oh and another thing.
And you're still kind of recognizing that you're maybe imposing.
I should have asked before.
Maybe.
Right.
And so this would be normal to use these phrases.
Yeah.
Let's go through what we said here.
So I said, do you think we could go over the deck when you have a moment?
Right.
Again, I'm lightly, I'm treading lightly here.
Right.
Right.
Exactly.
Maybe, you know, I'm really busy or maybe this could be like a micromanaging thing.
Right.
If somebody you don't really need to see the deck but you're, you want to just make sure that it has everything it's supposed to have.
So you're sort of apologizing, a little bit recognizing like I know I shouldn't be asking, but do you mind if I look at the deck?
Yeah, exactly.
And then let's see, you said, absolutely, it's almost done.
And I said, awesome.
Could you possibly send it to me as soon as it's ready?
And I'm still staying very indirect here.
Exactly.
Right.
Again, these phrases that are sort of apologetic.
And then you said, anyway, you could add a quick summary.
So this is the kind of thing you're asking me to go above and beyond, to do something that I hadn't initially been asked or required to do, so that sort of the phrase that has an implied apology is used.
Perfect guys.
This is a really important episode.
I know that directness indirectness, can vary across cultures.
If you're coming from a Language and culture where you are tend to be even more indirect, to pay attention to your target culture, Where you're living, and how direct and what situations command that.
Right.
Just eyes wide open here.
Yeah, there's a lot to this.
It's interesting.
If you use just look how many we taught here.
There's so many ways to say this five different phrases.
You don't want to use the same one over and over and over in every email and every conversation.
It feels insincere.
It feels redundant.
So switch it up.
Use these different ways to say that remove, possibly add, possibly switch it up, so that it doesn't feel like we're being asked the same thing again and again.
Yeah, and there was another great episode about politeness, indirectness, 550.
By any chance, are you worried about politeness, right?
Yes, that was part one, if you missed it.
Yes, scroll up, check it out.
Between the phrases for that one and this one, you have an arsenal of ways to be polite with requests at work.
Which is what we need, right?
To succeed sometimes.
Absolutely.
100%.
All right.
Really good stuff today, Aubrey.
And I will see you back on the show very soon.
You have a good rest of your week.
Okay.
You too.
Thanks, Lindsay.
See you next time.
Bye.
Bye.
And hit follow to get four new episodes per week on fluency, American culture, grammar and so much more.
Or tap the link in the show notes.
Remember, we believe in connection, not perfection when it comes to learning English.
Follow the All Ears English podcast now.
This Monday, one day only, earn a 25-cent Hy-Vee Fuel Saver for every $40.
That's a 25-cent Fuel Saver for every 40 you spend in-store and online.
Monday only and only at Hy-Vee.
Some restrictions apply.
