Additional "por favor" related question.
Thank you all who helped me to understand "Haga el favor".
I know there are many ways one can make a statement, same goes here. So, how should I interpret this variation of "por favor"?
English - Please make out my bill...
Spanish - Favor de preparar mi cuenta...
Just my opinion - Since this is from a Spanish phrase book, it is hard to remember to say something one way, giving variations may help understanding, but hinders the remembering.
17 Answers
When I use the infinitive (preparar la cuenta) I intend to speak in general terms. But when you speak to someone you have to conjugate the verb obviously.
Gracias a todos por vuestra ayuda.
I used it instead of "to begin with" .
That is really more practical.
"por favor, prepare la cuenta" is imperative and a little impolite.
It has to be: por favor, ¿me puede preparar la cuenta'
Gracias a todos ustedes para/por ayuda.
Now that is a mouthful from me, probably incorrect, so feel free to repair it.
You can't use the infinitive when you are talking to anyone
the correct sentence in this case would be "por favor, prepare [usted] la cuenta" You can omite usted.
If you are in spain and the waiter isn't very older probably you would use a less formal sentence: "por favor ¿me preparas la cuenta'"
And another correct sentence and the easiest is: "por favor: la cuenta".
Zoltán, I don't catch the sense of "a lead in"
I think it would change into a command either formal or informal.
I believe in making things really simple. "La cuenta por favor"
Hola Zoltán,
It doesn't change anything.
Por favor, ¿me puede preparar la cuenta?
Por favor,¿cuánto es?
It is the same
Zoltán,
You are correct in learning the structure and tenses. Being polite is of the utmost importance when speaking Spanish so I would take Dunia's response and learn "por favor, me puede preparar la cuenta".
Hola Dunia,
What would "Preparar la cuenta" change to if I use "Por favor," as a lead in'
Hola Sally,
Your suggestion is excellent, but I am too much of a beginner learning Spanish. If I use "por favor", the sentence structure will change. In this case it may become "Por favor, prepara or prepararé or something totally different.
I do not really try to memorize any of the phrases, just learning from them the sentence structure, some words and a little bit of various verb tenses.
Why do you want to complicate your life?
"Por favor" is easy, is beautiful, is perfect. It's like please, that it is.
"Preparar la cuenta" is also perfect.
I am spanish. In my opinion when you say "Haga el favor de prepararme la cuenta" it's a little more imperative than "por favor ¿me puede preparar la cuenta'". All two expressions are correct.
But the usual expression is: "Por favor, ¿cuánto es'"
