chcel by som

Polite Requests: Chcel by Som

Level 3

Use the conditional to ask politely: Chcel by som kávu (I would like a coffee), Mohli by ste mi pomôcť? (Could you help me?).

How It Works

Softening a wish. Chcem kávu is correct but direct. The conditional makes it polite:

  • Chcel by som kávu. I would like a coffee. (male speaker)
  • Chcela by som sa opýtať … I would like to ask … (female speaker)
  • Chceli by sme rezervovať stôl. We would like to book a table.

A very common way to order food or drink is Dal by som si … (I'll have …): Dal by som si pivo.

Asking for help. Use the conditional of môcť with an infinitive:

  • to a friend: Mohol by si …? / Mohla by si …?
  • politely: Mohli by ste …?

A negative question is even softer: Nemohli by ste hovoriť pomalšie? (Could you speak more slowly?) See polite negative requests.

Agreement. The l-form matches the speaker: a man says chcel, a woman says chcela. With polite vy to one person the l-form is plural: mohli by ste, never mohol by ste. See polite vy in the past.

Examples (6)

  1. Chcel by som kávu, prosím.

    I would like a coffee, please.

    Word by Word: Wanted would I-am coffee, please.

    A male speaker.

  2. Chcela by som sa opýtať, kedy ide vlak do Žiliny.

    I would like to ask when the train to Žilina leaves.

    Word by Word: Wanted(f) would I-am self to-ask, when goes train to Žilina.

    A female speaker: chcela.

  3. Mohli by ste mi pomôcť?

    Could you help me?

    Word by Word: Could(pl) would you-are me to-help?

  4. Mohol by si zatvoriť okno?

    Could you close the window?

    Word by Word: Could would you-are to-close window?

    Informal, to a man or boy.

  5. Dal by som si pivo.

    I'll have a beer.

    Word by Word: Gave would I-am myself beer.

    A very common way to order.

  6. Nemohli by ste hovoriť pomalšie?

    Could you speak more slowly?

    Word by Word: Not-could would you-are to-speak more-slowly?

Common Mistakes

  • Using the masculine form for a female speaker.

    Jana v kaviarni: „Chcel by som čaj.“
    Jana v kaviarni: „Chcela by som čaj.“

    The l-form agrees with the speaker, so a woman says chcela by som.

  • Using the present tense of môcť with by.

    Môžete by ste mi pomôcť?
    Mohli by ste mi pomôcť?

    The conditional is built on the l-form mohli, not on the present form môžete.

  • Using a singular l-form with polite vy.

    Pán Novák, mohol by ste prísť zajtra?
    Pán Novák, mohli by ste prísť zajtra?

    With polite vy, the l-form is always plural, even for one person.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

chcel by somLevel 3Polite Requests: Chcel by Som

Learn This First

Before Polite Requests: chcel by som, learn The Conditional Mood and Wanting With chcieť. chcel by som is a polite conditional. It uses the l-form of chcieť.

Words in This Pattern

chcieť