"Please" and "thank you" are polite ways of
greeting and responding. "Please" is used to make a request, ask a
question, or respond to a question in a more polite manner. It is also used to
beg or plea for something. "Thank you" is used to respond to something
in a more polite manner.
Please - Requests and Questions
"Please" is used to make a request or ask a question in a more polite
manner. "Please" is usually placed at the beginning or the end of a
sentence. If "please" is placed at the end of the end of a sentence,
put a comma before the word "please".When using the verbs
can/could/would, "please" can be placed in the middle of a sentence.
This makes the tone of the request stronger.
· Please call your parents right away.
· Call you parents right away, please.
· Could you please call your parents
right away?
· Please hold the door.
· Hold the door, please.
· Could you please hold the door?
· Please pass the salt and pepper.
· Can you pass the salt and pepper, please?
· Can you please pass the salt and
pepper?
· Please repeat that.
· Repeat that, please.
· Could you please repeat that?
Please - Responding to Questions
"Please" is used to answer a question or respond to an action in a
more polite manner. When answering with "please", it is placed at the
end of the response. A comma is placed before the word "please".
· Would you like something to drink?
Yes, please.
· What would you like to drink?
Water, please.
· Would you like to watch some TV?
Yes, please.
· What would you like to watch?
The football game, please.
Please - Encouraging or Begging
"Please" is used to strongly state or ask for something.
"Please" is also used to beg for something. "Please" is
usually placed at the beginning or the end of a sentence. If "please"
is placed at the end of the end of a sentence, put a comma before the word
"please".
· Please help me!
· Help me, please!
· Please stop!
· Stop, please!
· Please don't do that.
· Don't do that, please.
· Please do.
· Please believe me.
Thank you - Different Degrees
"Thank you" is used to respond to something in a more polite manner.
There are different degrees of "thank you". "Thanks" is an
informal form of "thank you". Words can also be added to "thank
you" to make the response stronger such as "Thank you very much."
Informal
Person A: I like your dress.
Person B: Thanks.
Formal
Person A: I bought the tickets for you.
Person B: Thank you.
Stronger
Person A: Your soup is delicious.
Person B: Thank you very much.
Thank you - Responding to Questions
"Thank you" is used to respond to a question in a polite manner. Yes
and No questions can be answered with "Yes, thank you". "No,
thank you". If you respond with just "thank you", you are
accepting the offer.
Yes
Person A: Would you like a glass of water?
Person B: Yes, thank you.
Yes
Person A: Would you like a ride?
Person B: Thank you.
No
Person A: Do you want another slice of cake?
Person B: No, thank you.
Thank you - Showing Gratitude or Appreciation
"Thank you" is used to show gratitude or appreciation.
Person A: I will call you a cab.
Person B: Thank you.
Thank you with "-ing" Verbs or Nouns
"Thank you" can be used with "-ing" verbs or nouns. The
word "for" is used after "thank you" and before the
"-ing" verb or noun. "Thank you + for + gerund/noun".
· Thank you for helping me with my homework.
· Thanks for your help.
· Thanks for taking me home.
· Thank you for the ride.
· Thank you for listening to my story.
· Thank you for your time today.
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