Modern Spanish Grammar: A Practical Guide

MAKING REQUESTS 68.1Por favor, no se lo digas.Please don’t tell him/her.Por favor tráigame un sándwich de jamón y una cerveza.Please bring me a ham sandwich and a beer.Isabel, páseme la carpeta azul, por favor.Isabel, please give me the blue file.68.1.3Haga/haz el favor de . . . /¿Haría el favor de . . . ?+ infinitiveThese constructions are heard much less often than those in 68.1.1 and 68.1.2 above,but like the others, it belongs more to the spoken than to the written language.Haga el favor de no fumar.Would you mind not smoking, please?Hagan el favor de entrar.Would you mind coming in, please?Haz el favor de decirle que venga.Would you tell him/her to come, please?¿Haría Vd. el favor de apagar la televisión?Would you turn the television off, please?68.1.4¿Puedes(s)? + infinitiveThis construction with ¿puede(s)?, ‘can you?’ is a more neutral form in terms ofregister, as in spoken language it is equally common in familiar and formal address.In writing, however, it falls into the informal register.Por favor, ¿puedes echarme una mano?Can you give me a hand, please?¿Puede usted hacerme un favor?Can you do me a favour?¿Puedes subir un momento?Can you come up for a moment?¿Puedes llamarme la semana que viene?Can you call me next week? 21.1 (p. 99)68.1.5¿Podría(s)? + infinitiveThe use of the conditional form of poder, ¿podría(s)?, ‘could you?’ lends moreformality and force to a spoken request. But like the previous form, it is used in formalas well as informal address. In writing, however, one is more likely to find it in aninformal register, although in a formal note or message it would be quite appropriate.¿Podrías poner esto allí?Could you put this over there?382