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please and thank you

Requests​

We use please to make requests more polite.

  • Could I have some more rice, please?
  • ‘Would you like some help?’ ‘Yes, please.’

Note that please does not change an order into a request. Compare:

  • Stand over there. (order)
  • Please stand over there. (more polite order)
  • Could you stand over there, please? (polite request)

Please do is a rather formal answer to a request for permission.

  • ‘Do you mind if I open the window?’ ‘Please do.’

When please is not used​

We do not use please to ask people what they have said.

  • ‘I’ve got a bit of a headache.’ ‘I beg your pardon?’ (not … Please?)

We do not use please when we give things to people.

  • ‘Have you got a pen I could use?’ ‘Yes, here you are.’ (not … Please.)

Please is not used as an answer to Thank you (see below).

  • ‘Thanks a lot.’ ‘That’s OK’ . (not … Please.)

thank you and thanks​

Thanks is more informal than thank you. Common expressions:

  • Thank you. (not Thanks you.)
  • Thanks very much.
  • Thank you very much.
  • Thanks a lot. (but not Thank you a lot.)
  • Thank God it’s Friday. (not Thanks God …)

Indeed (see here) can be used to strengthen very much. This is rather formal.

  • Thank you very much indeed. (but not usually Thank you indeed.)

Thank you for / Thanks for can be followed by an -ing form. Possessives are unnecessary and are not used.

  • ‘Thank you for coming.’ ‘Not at all. Thank you for having me.’ (not Thank you for your coming.)

Some British people say Cheers (informal) to mean Thanks.

Accepting and refusing​

We often use Thank you / Thanks like Yes, please, to accept offers.

  • ‘Would you like some potatoes?’ ‘Thank you.’ ‘How many?’

To make it clear that one wishes to refuse something, it is normal to say No, thank you / No, thanks.

  • ‘Another cake?’ ‘No, thanks. I’ve eaten too many already.’

Yes, thanks is most often used to confirm that things are all right.

  • ‘Have you got enough potatoes?’ ‘Yes, thanks.’

Replies to thanks​

In English, there is not an automatic answer to Thank you; British people, especially, do not usually answer when they are thanked for small things. If a reply is necessary, we can say Not at all (rather formal), You’re welcome, That’s (quite) all right or That’s OK (informal). Some people say No problem (informal). Compare:

  • ‘Could you pass the salt?’ ‘Here you are.’ ‘Thanks.’ (no answer)
  • ‘Here’s your coat.’ ‘Thanks.’ (no answer)
  • ‘Thanks so much for looking after the children.’ ‘That’s all right. Any time.’ (answer necessary)
note

For more about the language of common social situations, (see here).