In this episode, you’ll learn how to make requests. For example, asking where the train station is, how much the apples cost, and who is the manager. I’m giving you more complex sentence structures here, but you can use them on different occasions and are very polite. Also, they force you to practice different grammar aspects.
Listen to the episode
Beginnings
Desculpe, podia dizer-me... ? Excuse me, could you tell me... ?
Desculpe, eu gostaria de saber... . Excuse me, I would like to know... .
Perdão, sabia dizer-me... . Excuse me, would you (know how to) tell me... .
Por favor, diga-me... . Please, tell me... .
Connectors
qual (+ ser) which
que (+ noun) which
o que what
porque why
a que horas at what time
onde where
quando when
como how
quanto how much
quem who
Examples
Desculpe, podia dizer-me onde é a farmácia?
Excuse me, could you tell me where the pharmacy is?
Desculpe, podia dizer-me quando chega o comboio?
Excuse me, could you tell me when the train arrives?
Desculpe, podia dizer-me como vou para a estação?
Excuse me, could you tell me how I get to the station?
Desculpe, eu gostaria de saber quanto custa esta blusa.
Excuse me, I would like to know how much this blouse costs.
Desculpe, eu gostaria de saber quem é o responsável.
Excuse me, I would like to know who is in charge.
Desculpe, eu gostaria de saber qual é o melhor carro.
Excuse me, I would like to know which is the best car.
Perdão, sabia dizer-me que rua é esta?
Excuse me, would you tell me which street this is?
Perdão, sabia dizer-me o que tenho de fazer?
Excuse me, would you tell me what I have to do?
Perdão, sabia dizer-me porque é que a rua está fechada?
Excuse me, would you tell me why the street is closed?