Page 442 - Practical English Usage 3ed - Michael Swan, Oxford

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replies to thanks
In English, there is not an automatic answer to Thank you; British people, especially, do not usually answer when they are thanked for small things. If a reply is necessary, we can say Not at all (rather formal), You're welcome, That's (quite) all right or That's OK (informal). Some people say No problem (informal). Compare:
Could you pass the salt? ..... Here you are. - Thanks. - (no answer)
Here's your coat. ..... Thanks. - (no answer)
Thanks so much for looking after the children. - That's aU right. Any time.
(answer necessary)
For more about the language of common social situations, see 545.
point of view
Point ofview can mean the same as opinion.
Thank you for giving us your point of view / opinion.
Butfrom somebody's point ofview is not quite the same as in somebody's view/ opinion. It usually means 'as seen from somebody's position in life' (for example as a student, a woman, a Greek or a Catholic), and is used to say how somebody is affected by what happens. Compare:
- In my opinion, war is always wrong. (= I think war ...) (NOT Prm'/l fUY"Binl B/fJiew, ~r isalWflYs wrong.)
He wrote about the warfrom the point ofview ofthe ordinary soldier.
- In my view, it's a pretty good school.
You havetojudgeaschoolfrom thechild'spointofview.
- In Professor Lucas's opinion, everybody should work a 20-hour week.
From the employers' point of view, this would cause a lot of problems.
politeness (1): using questions requests: Could you •.. ?
We usually ask people to do things for us by making yes/no questions. (This suggests that the hearer can choose whether to agree or not.)
Could you tell me the time, please? (much more polite than Please tell me the time.)
Some other typical structures used in requests:
Could you possibly tell me the way to the station? (very polite) Would you mind switching on the TV?
Would you like to help me for a few minutes?
You couldn't lend me some money, could you? (informal)
Indirect yes/no questions are also used in polite requests.
I wonder ifyou could (possibly) help me for a few minutes.
other structures: telling people to do things
If we use other structures (for example imperatives. should, had better), we are not asking people to do things, but telling or advising them to do things. These structures can therefore seem rude if we use them in requests, especially in
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