按照汉语的语用习惯，问对方忙不忙是有求于对方的一种“先行词”，英语问别人“Are you busy?”更多是表示关心的一种方式。不过也有老外在请你帮忙前会先问你忙不忙的。
有求于人时用什么话开始好呢？其实可以开门见山地说“Mr. Lee, could you do me a favor?”或者“I wonder if you could do me a favor?”注意，用过去时要比用现在时客气得多；再客气一点，还可以说“I had been wondering if you could help me.”或“I beg a favor of you.”颇有点官腔。
很正式的请求用语以前还有“May I venture to ask you for a favor?”或“Please excuse me to make bold to ask you to do me a favor.”这些用法显得有点迂腐，现在已没有人这样说了。如果只是想问个问题，耽误对方几分钟，也可以说“Could you spare me a few minutes, Mr. Lee？”
上面这些都是比较正式的请求，更正式的书面语可以说“We / I would be very much obliged if you could/would…（很有点“万分感激”的意思）”如果是很熟的朋友之间，可以用比较随便的口气，如：Be a sport and lend me a hand（这里sport意为“气量大度的人”），请别人帮忙还可以说“Would you give me a hand?”（问异性Would you give me your hand? 则是求婚。）
至于向陌生人问时间，可以说“Excuse me, but could you tell me what time it is now? ”现在英语也趋向于简单明了，很少说“Would you be kind enough to tell me the time?”一类的话了。作者: hellolele1 时间: 2010-11-13 15:58
Thanks very much ,it`s helpful.作者: Bernice 时间: 2011-3-12 13:02
Thanks作者: bonnieju 时间: 2011-4-7 19:07
Would you give me a hand?
Would you give me your hand?
It's interesting.作者: 菁菁小杰 时间: 2011-4-11 10:40
very good,let me also increased knowledge,作者: 阳光的诺言 时间: 2011-4-30 20:52
I think it's diffcult、作者: 旭Jane 时间: 2011-5-3 14:37
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