Writing Questions and Polite Requests

What you’ll learn

Ask for information or action clearly in writing.

សរសេរសំណួរ និងសំណើឱ្យច្បាស់ និងគួរសម។

Writing focus

A direct question usually needs question order and a question mark. A polite request can use could you + base verb. Embedded questions after could you tell me use statement order inside the embedded clause. Choose a request that tells the reader exactly what action or information you need.

សំណួរផ្ទាល់ប្រើលំដាប់សំណួរ និងសញ្ញាសួរ។ Could you ជាសំណើគួរសម។ ក្នុង Could you tell me where… ឃ្លាខាងក្នុងប្រើប្រធានមុនកិរិយាសព្ទ។

Writing patterns

Pattern	Example or form
Direct question	When does the course start?
Polite action request	Could you send me the timetable?
Embedded information request	Could you tell me where the classroom is?

Examples

1. What time does the workshop finish?

   សិក្ខាសាលាបញ្ចប់ម៉ោងប៉ុន្មាន?

2. Could you check my answer, please?

   តើអ្នកអាចពិនិត្យចម្លើយខ្ញុំបានទេ?

3. Could you tell me if there are places available?

   តើអ្នកអាចប្រាប់ថាមានកន្លែងទំនេរឬទេ?

4. Please send the form by Friday.

   សូមផ្ញើសំណុំបែបបទត្រឹមថ្ងៃសុក្រ។

Model writing

Hello Maly,

Could you send me the timetable for next week, please? Could you also tell me where the new classroom is?

Thank you for your help.

Dara

Common mistakes

Instead of	Use	Why
Could you to send it?	Could you send it?	A modal takes the bare infinitive.
Could you tell me where is the room?	Could you tell me where the room is?	Use statement order inside the embedded clause.

Practice

Try these questions before opening the answers. Write or say each answer.

សាកល្បងឆ្លើយសំណួរទាំងនេះជាមុនសិន មុននឹងបើកមើលចម្លើយ។ អ្នកអាចសរសេរ ឬនិយាយចម្លើយរបស់អ្នក។

1. Rewrite politely: Send me the timetable.
2. Correct: What time the lesson starts?
3. Embed Where is the office? after Could you tell me.

Answers and explanations

Show answers / បង្ហាញចម្លើយ

1. Could you send me the timetable, please?

   Model answer: modal question plus a clear action.

2. What time does the lesson start?

   Use does and base start in a direct question.

3. Could you tell me where the office is?

   The embedded clause uses subject–verb order.

Quick recap

• Ask for one clear action or piece of information.
• Use a base verb after could.
• Embedded questions use statement order.