degree of politeness

[blacknomi]

(1)How can I help you?
(2)What can i help you with?
(3)Can i help you?


What kind of people would say what kind of sentence?

(1) usually customer service
(2) cosmetic saleslady


:wink:

[Casiopea]

Originally Posted by blacknomi

(1)How can I help you?
(2)What can i help you with?
(3)Can i help you?


What kind of people would say what kind of sentence?

(1) usually customer service
(2) cosmetic saleslady


:wink:

Both (1) and (2). :D

[blacknomi]

Originally Posted by Casiopea

Both (1) and (2). :D

I see. As for business communication, I think (1) and (2) are almost the same in degree of courtesy. But (3) is not as courteous as one and two. When I chat with my friends, I sometimes use (1) and (2) in a ironic way to give my friends a hint that they are all thumbs.

For example:

I was having pizza with my friend, Susan. Susan tried to slice the pizza but she failed. I thought maybe her cutter wasn't sharp so that she couldn't cut her pizza into pieces. I let her use mine. Susan tried zillions of time, still, it didn't work well at all. I was trying to tease her and say in a very sarcastic dragging tone, "Susan, what can I help you with!"


Hope you can figure out my meanings. Do Americans or British have the similiar usage?

:wink:

[Tdol]

Of the 3, I think the one I wouldn't use is 2).

[Francois]

You could also say (polite & rather formal):
How can I be of assistance to you?

FRC

[Tdol]

That sounds a bit wooden to me.

[queenmaabd]

Originally Posted by tdol

Of the 3, I think the one I wouldn't use is 2).

I agree. In fact I've often herd the other two in department stores.

[gonghai]

Originally Posted by Francois

You could also say (polite & rather formal):
How can I be of assistance to you?

FRC

I don't know? But to me, it sounds so wordy and awkward

[Francois]

It depends on context I guess. You would not say that to a friend, but in some circumstances a wordy question is not amiss.

FRC

[Tdol]

You could use it in an ironic manner.