Could you not
- Thread starter irinaofr
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Yes, they are correct.
You will also hear "Would you not X" as well. That version is probably a little more common, but there is nothing wrong with your choices either.
Also, these are usually accompanied by 'please' to make them more polite. The word 'please' has some flexibility where it appears, as I've indicated below.
Could you please not smoke?
Could you not smoke, please?
Please, could you not smoke?
You will also hear "Would you not X" as well. That version is probably a little more common, but there is nothing wrong with your choices either.
Also, these are usually accompanied by 'please' to make them more polite. The word 'please' has some flexibility where it appears, as I've indicated below.
Could you please not smoke?
Could you not smoke, please?
Please, could you not smoke?
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Please use single punctuation marks, Irina.
Matthew Wai
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I think it is right, but I am not a teacher.
Eckaslike
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Hi irinaofr,
"May I ask you not TO smoke?"
"I believe TO is needed here, right?"
Yes, I believe Matthew is correct. However, to me, in BrE this is not as polite as it may at first seem on the surface. It actually means that you are directly telling, or instructing, them not to smoke, but trying to make it sound polite by using "May I....". It would mainly be used by authority figures. It sounds rather old fashioned and most people now, even in authority, would probably use the forms recommended by Skrej and emsr2d2.
"May I ask you not TO smoke?"
"I believe TO is needed here, right?"
Yes, I believe Matthew is correct. However, to me, in BrE this is not as polite as it may at first seem on the surface. It actually means that you are directly telling, or instructing, them not to smoke, but trying to make it sound polite by using "May I....". It would mainly be used by authority figures. It sounds rather old fashioned and most people now, even in authority, would probably use the forms recommended by Skrej and emsr2d2.
Matthew Wai
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I think it is also polite to say 'Would you mind not smoking?', but I am not a teacher.
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