Is てお願いします a real verb form? I don’t know why but I have been using this in my speech as a politer way to ask someone to do something, but I have never heard anyone else use it. Is this ok or should I use something else? For example:
食べてお願いします。
気を付けてお願いします。
読んでお願いします。
Maybe I just made this up in my head for some reason, or is this real grammar? If it’s not, what is a politer way to ask someone to do something? Thank you!
お願いします means “i request”. 食べてお願いします sounds a bit strange. it’s understandable, but not natural. i’d switch it out for ください
There are many cases where お願いします sounds off. I’d say it works for things that have a sense of being a selfish wish or request, like when you’re asking somebody for a favor, and they have to go out of their way to do it.
If you want to ask someone to do something politely, I think one of the safer ways is to use くれませんか. This should be appropriate for most cases for a learner I think. You can also use ください but keep in mind that even though it’s polite, it can sound a little bit forceful in some cases.
気をつけてください Please be careful
手伝ってくれませんか？ Could you please help me (with this)?
I don’t think お願いします typically comes after the て form. I have heard it tagged on after a question sentence though. From what I understand, it’s like a formal request for something, so it would seem a bit odd in everyday cases like “please eat” or “please read this for me.”
Adding on to what everyone else said, if you want to be really polite/humble you can say いただけませんか
読んでいただけませんか
教えていただけませんか
It also depends on who you’re talking with. I wouldn’t go politer than ください for someone you’re speaking to in a normal, non-work setting that you would ultimately like to be friends with. Being too polite can kind of ostracize yourself.
This is probably a bit of a tangent, but my self-rule is that even if I’m speaking normally, I always use て form to make requests. None of that てくれ crap, especially when talking to girls. Sure if you’re a dude, you wanna sound like a dude, but people are much friendlier if you are still speaking somewhat politely versus straight up dude-talk. It also helps to add weight for when you really need to use strong, imperative speaking.
Anyway, from what I’ve noticed, お願いします is often said during the whole someone offers to do something and you have to do the reject it to be polite dance. “Oh, no, you don’t have to do that for me.” “But I want to.” “Are you sure?” “Yes, let me help you.” “Ok then. お願いします”
It can also help to reaffirm your request, but can make you sound desperate.
“Please help me this weekend!” （てください！）
“I’m probably busy this weekend.”
“Please!” （お願いします！）
That’s just what I’ve observed though.
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