Russian Classes: How to be polite

Aranagraphics, photo3idea_studio, Freepik/flaticon.com

Привет!

Today we focus on joke-telling and learn how to ask somebody for a favor.

The direct way to ask is to use the imperative form.

• Купи мне, пожалуйста, барабаны!
• Please, buy me drums!

The more polite way is to use the question “Could you..?”, like in the situation in the pictures.

• Можешь купить мне барабаны?
• Could you buy me drums?

The most polite way is to use a negative question. Although that's mostly a Russian thing: in English, you substitute for it by adding the word "kindly".

• Не мог бы ты, пожалуйста, купить мне барабаны?
• Literally: Couldn’t you, please, buy me drums? In reality: Would you, kindly, buy me drums?

Note! When addressing someone whom you're not close to, or a stranger - use the pronoun "Вы" and the plural form of the verb in all the phrases. For example: “Не могли бы вы..?”

Check out more lessons in our Telegram channel, using the tag #russianclasses!

Dear readers,

Our website and social media accounts are under threat of being restricted or banned, due to the current circumstances. So, to keep up with our latest content, simply do the following:

• Subscribe to our Telegram channel
• Subscribe to our weekly email newsletter
• Enable push notifications for our website
• Install a VPN service on your computer and/or phone to have access to our website, even if it is blocked in your country

If using any of Russia Beyond's content, partly or in full, always provide an active hyperlink to the original material.