LESSON 2.3 | ASKING FOR INFORMATION

LESSON 2.3 | ASKING FOR INFORMATION

·         Asking for information

Sometimes you want to ask English people for information. In English it is not very polite to start a conversation with a direct question. For this reason we have a number of phrases.

10 expressions to Use In Speaking And Writing: 

Can you tell me...? Could you tell me...? I'd like to know... D'you know... (Got / Have you) any idea...? Could anyone tell me...? (Do / Would) you happen to know...? I don't suppose you (would) know...? I wonder if you could tell me...? I wonder if someone could tell me...?

How To Use These Phrases In Your English: 

Phrases 1 - 10 are all followed by indirect questions. So 'What's the time?' becomes 'Can you tell me what the time is?'. Phrase 2 is a little more formal and polite than phrase 1. Phrases 3, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 are polite and are good to use if you are asking a stranger or you are asking at a public information desk. Phrase 4 is more informal. Phrases 5 and 7 are more informal if you say them with out the part in () brackets. Phrases 9 and 10 are very formal and in an informal situation some people may react strangely if they think that you are being sarcastic. By using phrases 1 to 10, we make it easier for the listener to say 'Sorry I don't know'.