There are a number of ways to express polite requests in Spanish. For example, you can use a command, accompanied by por favor (æpleaseÆ): Traígame un café, por favor. A more polite way of making the same request, however, is to use a form of the verb querer: ¿Quiere traerme un café?; (Literally:ædo you want to bring me a coffee?Æ).

When you want to ask for a favor or make a polite inquiry, you can also use the verb querer: Querría hacer una llamada a los Estados Unidos (æI would like to make a phone callÆ) OR Quisiera hacer una llamada a los Estados Unidos (æI would like to make a phone callÆ).

Sometimes you can use the verb poder the same way: ¿Puede usted decirme? (æCan you tell me?Æ) OR ¿Podría usted indicarme? (æCould you show me?Æ).