英语中委婉语气的表达法在每一个民族的语言里，或多或少有些关于更礼貌更客气的表达方法，也就是委婉语气表达（ overtone of politeness）。

西方人的委婉更是出了名的，英语学习者经过长期的英语学习和研究不难发现英语中有许多婉转口气的表达法，它使听话者觉得说话者更有涵养或更容易接受其内容，也使自己显得更有教养。

那么如何讲有礼貌的英语呢？下面就用一些例子对此做一些阐述。

1 有关请求和命令的婉转说法这一类言语行为在不同程度上具有冒犯性，因此需要用礼貌的话把它淡化和缓解。

试比较：● Pass the water.(不礼貌 )● Pass the water, please.（使对方容易接受。

）● Would you pass the water?（试探受话人是否乐意）● Could your possibly pass the water?（询问受话人是否有做某事的可能性，很客气）● I would be extremely grateful if your would pass the water.（假设语气陈述句，很有礼貌）● I wonder if you would be good enough to pass the water.（假设语气，很委婉）受话人如何给对方答复，现分肯定回答和否定回答来研究。

肯定回答：按礼貌程度由低到高排列。

● .● (Yes,) certainly.● Yes, by all means.● Of course. I'll be only too pleased to.否定回答：当你被别人邀请参加聚会或其他等等活动而你因有事不能参加；或者人家有事相求你又确实帮不了，请求得不到满足，回答使发话人不悦，这时你不妨试试下面这些软否定： No, I'm afraid I can't; Well, I'd love to, but actually, I'm afraid I can't at present because...; I wish I could, but...; I'd love to, but...; I'd be glad to, but...; I'm afraid not, ...; It's very kind of you to say, but ...; I'd like to ..., but ...， etc. 让我们用一些对话做为例子 :● A: We plan to go to the beach after class, want to come?B: I'd love to, but Pro. Jones wants to speak with me.● A: It never fails, It's raining hard outside and I'm stuck without an umbrella.B: I'd like to let you have mine, but I have to go out soon.● A: Will you go to the movies with me tonight?B: I'd love to, but I've caught a cold.● A: Could you possibly do me a favor?B: Sure, What is it?A: I've got a problem. I have to fix my table and I don't have a hammer. Could I possibly borrow yours? B: I'm sorry. I'm afraid I don't have one. A: Oh .Do you know anybody who does?B: Yes. You should call Charlie. I'm sure he'll be happy to lend you his.A: Thank you. I'll call him right away.● A: It's such a fine day, shall we go to the park for a walk?B: I'd like to join you, but I find it chilly to walk outside in spite of the sun.2 劝告的婉转法试比较下面句子（按从直截了当到较有礼貌的含蓄的劝告表达法排列）● You ought to type this paper.(有强加于人的意向 )● You really should slow down at your office.● You'd better tell him the truth.● I'd advise you to take a vacation.● You should take your parents' advice, they know what's best for you.● If I were you , I'd buy another car without hesitation.（含蓄地达到劝告目的）3 建议的表达法试比较：● I suggest you go for some advice.(不够礼貌，用于熟悉的人 )● I would suggest starting the work at once.（较委婉）● You can read the novel now if you like.（给人选择余地，较客气）● You could/might have a look at the novel.（客气）● Why not call me next weekend?（有礼貌的建议）● Why don't you find a decent job?（同 5））● Can /may/Could/might I suggest that...?（使受话人容易接受）● It would be better if you copy that again.（假设条件句，容易使人接受）● I wonder if I might make the suggestion that...（用在正式场合，比如外交家的审慎的辞令风格）4 如何利用某些时态婉转地表达自己种种想法从上面所举例子，我们不难发现英语中有些时态其实并不表示真正的时态，而是与英语中的委婉语气密不可分的，例如：某些实意动词（ want, wonder, think, hope等）的过去时、现在进行时、过去进行时表现在时比直接用现在时态更婉转，如：● A: Did you want me?B: Yes, I wondered if you could give me some help.● It's time you had a holiday.● I wish you lived closer to us.● If only you lent your book to me.● I'm hoping you'll give us some advice.● I'm wondering if I may have a word with you.● I was wondering /wondered if you'd like to come out with me one evening.● I was hoping / hoped you could send me some books.上面所举例子实际上都可以用一般现在时来代替，但是就不如用一般过去时；现在进行时或过去进行时委婉。

如：I was wondering whether you could help me do something on our wedding.这是一句非常礼貌的话，比“ Could you help me do something on our wedding?"要客气得多。

它用的是过去进行时，表达的意思却是现在。

这句话可以翻译成：“不知能否劳驾您在我们婚礼上帮我做点事情？”如果我们沿用传统的时态概念，把这句话改成后者，那么，整句话的语气大变，显得生硬。

更遭的是，句子产生了两种负面意义：我不知道你帮不帮我做这件事；对你否帮我做这事，我持怀疑态度。

而用过去进行时，则不会产生以上错误理解。

一些情态动词或其他动词的过去时也用来表示委婉语气，实际上是虚拟语气，表假设、愿望、建议、猜测、怀疑而已。

而没有时间上的差别，如：● She might have missed the train.（既是虚拟语气，也表委婉）。

● We might all have been indulging in an illusion.● It might be an idea to try this one again.● I would suggest you copied this out again.● Sally couldn't love him.● It would be better if you wrote in ink..● You'd(You had) better be careful next time.● I'd rather you finished this off before Friday.● I'd rather you didn't look at the answer or ask others for help.● This handbag could be Mary's.● A: Could/might I smoke here?B: Yes, of course you can. /No, I'm afraid not. ● Should I turn off the light?● What should we do next?● I should say he is just the right man for this job.● I should think your approach is correct.● I don't think he would be so absent－ minded.● It would be a pity to stop our work half－ way.● Would you like to stay here for the night?● What would you advise me to do?● If I had a chance, I'd major in economics.● It's a pity if they should be so obstinate● I wouldn't go there unless they should force me to go.● We would reduce our price rather than lose the business.假如上面例子的时态变成现在时的话，意思虽然没变，但语气就不如用用过去式婉转。