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_hye
2019年11月21日

  • 日语
  • 英语 (美国)
关于英语 (美国) 的问题

What is the difference between “Would you tell me what that means? “ and “Could you tell me what that means? Which sounds natural to native English speaker?

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emilywai
2019年11月21日

  • 英语 (美国)
  • 英语 (英国) 半母语者

They are both said but I believe “could” is the correct version.

Highly-rated answerer
taylorannecurry
2019年11月21日

  • 英语 (美国)

"Could" is asking if the person is able to do it, "would" is asking if they will do it. Both are used but if you are asking someone if they will help you, you would want to say "Would you..."

_hye
2019年11月21日

  • 日语
@taylorannecurry
Can I ask you what you mean by “you would want to say”? Why “would want to”?
taylorannecurry
2019年11月21日

  • 英语 (美国)

@Saul1122 I mean that if you are asking someone to help you, you say "Would you tell me what that means?"
I'm sorry that I was unclear

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NAFFU
2019年11月21日

  • 英语 (美国)
  • 中文 (简体) 半母语者

Both are 100% natural, they differ in nuance

Would you...[do]?

Could you...[do]?

In my ears, "would you" is a more direct request from someone of higher social standing to one of lower standing.

The reason is that "would", while subjunctive, asks "will you...?" (i.e.: I know you *can*, but *will* you?)

Could you...? Does not assume that you can, it leaves the door open to the possibility that you are simply unable to, whether you want to or not.


One us a question about your ability (and *then* your willingness)

The other *assumes* your ability, and is only interested in your willingness.

Americans in particular love the following sassy exchange:

A: Hey, can you grab my keys off the dresser for me?

B: Well, I *can*...

A: Ugh, OK would you *please* get them then?

This reveals that *ability* and *willingness* to do something are in fact two very different things.

"Would you...?", therefore, seek a to skip past the "ability phase" (the speaker assumes you are able) and get down to the meat of the matter: *will you*

Dressing it up in the imaginary/subjunctive "would" does little to disguise this fact.

Then again, this is my personal view, and may not be shared by others, especially British English speakers, it seems like I hear "would you...?" almost exclusively from them.

Highly-rated answerer
_hye
2019年11月21日

  • 日语
@taylorannecurry
いえいえ、教えていただきありがとうございました！
Thank you so much!
NAFFU
2019年11月21日

  • 英语 (美国)
  • 中文 (简体) 半母语者

@Saul1122 You "want to/ will want to/ would want to say..."

Are all ways of saying "you should say...", "it would be best if you said..."

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_hye
2019年11月21日

  • 日语
@NAFFU I didn’t know about this!
Thank you so much!
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