Politeness and formality

In your native language

English uses you for both informal and formal address, rather than separate pronouns for each. Greetings, titles, and phrases such as please and thank you help set the tone. Could or would can make a request less direct, but the wording and tone still matter.

Hi, Ben!

Hi is an informal greeting, often used with people you know.

Good morning, Ms. Brown.

The greeting and title suit a more formal relationship.

Could I ask you a question?

Could makes the question less direct; it does not refer to past time here.

In your learning language

Spanish distinguishes familiar address with tú, or regional vos, from more respectful or distant address with usted; usted takes the same verb forms as él and ella. For several people, most of Spain uses familiar vosotros and respectful ustedes, while most of Latin America uses ustedes in both situations. Address pronouns are often left unsaid, and politeness also depends on wording, tone, and local customs.

¿Quieres un café?

Would you like a coffee?

Quieres addresses one person as tú, even though tú is not spoken.

¿Quiere usted un café?

Would you like a coffee?

Usted takes the third-person singular form quiere.

¿Quieren ustedes sentarse?

Would you like to sit down?

Ustedes addresses several people and takes a third-person plural verb; in most of Latin America it can be familiar or respectful.