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What does it mean when someone says can I ask you something?
“Can I ask you something” is an opener which is used to ease someone into answering a request he’d rather like to avoid.
Why do people say can I ask a question?
‘ It is the considerate and polite way of asking permission, as asking the question in the first place usually implies it is personal to the degree that might be uncomfortable or intrusive for the person you are asking. And you ‘know’ it. He or she might rather not discuss it at all.
What to say when someone says can I ask you something?
What’s the most polite way to answer “can I ask you a question?” If you’re willing to hear them out, then “Yes, you may” is polite, formal and grammatically correct.
Why do people say may I ask?
You can say ‘may I ask’ as a formal way of asking a question, which shows you are annoyed or suspicious about something.
Could I ask you something or can I ask you something?
“Could I ask you something?” is often used colloquially in speaking but it is grammatically incorrect. Even “Can I ask you something?” though grammatically correct, is not correct in meaning, since you presumably want an answer to whatever question you ask as a follow-up.
Can I ask something synonym?
Frequently Asked Questions About ask Some common synonyms of ask are inquire, interrogate, query, and question.
Can I ask you favor?
“Can I ask you a favour?” – This is asking someone to do an action that you can do yourself, you just want someone else to do it. They are different things and can be used in a situation like this: “Hi, can I ask you a favour?”
How do you politely ask someone more?
Key Words That Make Direct Questions More Polite
- Excuse me, could you help me pick this up?
- Pardon me, could you help me?
- Pardon me, could you give me a hand?
- Could you explain this to me?
Can I ask you a question?
If someone begins talking with ‘can I ask you a question?’ that person feel some anxiety about asking you, and this is an attempt to calm things. I often answer something like ‘you can ask, but I can’t guarantee that I will answer you.
What is the origin of the word ‘ask’?
This fact about metathesis (and indeed language change in general) is actually directly relevant for the word ‘ask’, because its two forms have switched levels of prestige several times over the centuries. The word ‘ask’ goes all the way back to the Indo-European root *h₂ey-skeh₂ ‘to wish or request’.
What’s the most polite way to answer ‘can I ask you a question?
What’s the most polite way to answer “can I ask you a question?” If you’re willing to hear them out, then “Yes, you may” is polite, formal and grammatically correct. You are not obligated to answer their question if you don’t want to. You said you’d listen, not that you’d reveal private information.
What is the purpose of asking questions in a conversation?
This is a method of maintaining smooth social relations for both the person asking the question and for the person receiving it. The speaker is attempting to avert a negative response by signaling that their question may appear stupid, may already have been answered, or may seem impertinent.