Business Builder: Conditionals for Politeness

In many business cultures across the world, if you need something or want to offer something you can simply say, “I need this” or “do you want this?”. In British English business culture this is far too direct, and your clients and co-workers will find it to be rude (impolite).

To make sure you are being polite and friendly with your business English partners, you can use “conditional” grammar. This makes what you say less direct, and more polite to your conversation partner.

Can -> Could

• Can I take the company car? (Direct - Impolite)

• Could I take the company car? (Indirect conditional – Polite)

Do you -> would you

• Do you want the 2022 product catalogue? (Direct – impolite)

• Would you like the 2022 product catalogue? (Indirect conditional – Polite)

I want -> I would like

• I want to look at the Profit and Loss for 2021. (Direct – Impolite)

• I would like to look at the Profit and Loss for 2021. (Indirect conditional – Polite)

Meet me at… -> Could we meet at…?

• Meet me at 09:00 tomorrow. (Direct – Impolite)

• Could we meet at 09:00 tomorrow? (Indirect conditional – Polite)

Give me the… -> Could I please have the…?

• Give me the graph for July please. (Direct – Impolite)

• Could I please have the graph for July? (Indirect conditional – Polite)

Conditional sentences make your question, offer, or request less certain. This shows that your conversation partner has more choice. But don’t worry, conditionals do not change the meaning, we still know you want to have that meeting and you need the graph!