How to express gratitude in French

Label and rules

1. One of the most important things you need to remember is that when you talk to a stranger, you should always address him at . This may be a shopkeeper, a passerby you want to ask for directions, an administrative officer you are addressing for help or a colleague or neighbor you first see. Most often, even if you have known the person for some time, but without being in close relations, then the form . . . . . . will continue to be your way of communication at least until one of you offers to switch to . . . . . . and the other explicitly agrees. If you are the younger communication participant, wait for the other party to bring it up first. But if you do not receive explicit permission to speak at "You" even if your interviewer so address you, you better not proceed to the more familiar address. Surely you shouldn't do that when talking to your superior or someone above you.
2. Greetings and addresses It's perfectly normal to say hello when you meet someone and say goodbye. Here are some of the most common phrases and how to make them even more polite if necessary:
   • Bonjour - means "Good day" and you can actually use it from the beginning of the day to the beginning of the evening. In French there is no good morning . But with the dark part of the day you have to use . .Bonsoir"Good evening."
   • When you part with someone and wish them a pleasant rest of the day or evening use respectively -
   • If you add to the above expressions “madame/mademoiselle/monsieur” You'll make the greeting even more polite. The above addresses can be used whenever you want to ask an unknown person about the direction, for example or address a bank employee, office, administration and others.
3. Written correspondence Depending on the type of letter, the address and conclusion will be quite different. If your letter is addressed to a close one, of course it will contain much more words and expressions to highlight this proximity, for example: Mon cher Pierre, mes amis /My dear Pierre, my friends. - as introductory addresses and - À bientôt!; Je t’embrasse; Bises! - See you later! Kiss you! . for final greeting. If you write to a friend who knows but not a close friend, you can use mostly neutral expressions such as: Cher Monsieur; Chère Madame/ Mademoiselle, as address and Cordition; £bientôt! - to the final. When the letter is more in the column of official correspondence, you must follow stricter rules and increase the polite tone. Here you can read more about the way to structure official letters in French https://omegals.bg/kak-da-pishem-officialni-i-lichni-pisma-na-frenski-ezik/
4. Types of apologies Well-mannered people apologize when they affect you with words or actions and even when they do not want to enter the perimeter of your strict privacy. The French have several expressions that they use in different situations:
   • Pardon. It's a very universal expression. You can use it in the following cases:
     • to apologize if, for example, you step on the bus or in general when you have made a mistake; 
     • if you do not hear or understand well, as an invitation to repeat what your neighbor said;
     • as an expression of surprise or even outrage if someone offends you.
   • Excusez-moi / Excuse-moi / Excuse me/ - also one of the most widely used expressions. He's one degree more polite than Pardon regrets and is ready to correct the error. It can also be used when you stop a stranger on the street with a question or address a waiter at a restaurant. 
   • Désolé /I'm sorry/ - As in Bulgarian, this expression means sincere regret and regret for what you have done. To strengthen your apology you can use the following expressions: Je suis vraiment désolé; Je suis terriblement désolé.
   • Je suis navré(e) - This expression is something like our "I am so sorry" But generally it is more formal and used mainly in official correspondence. In everyday life, even in a more formal environment, you can safely use the expressions with Désolé. 

Expressing a polite request, question or desire

• start the question or request with Excusez-moi - Excusez-moi, vous pourriez me montrer … /Excuse me, can you show me...;
• express desire and finish the phrase with s s ¿il vous plait /please/- Je voudrais la salade s s ¿il vous plait. [I'd like a salad, please]
• Use conditional slope /conditionnel/ especially with verbs “pouvoir” et “vouloir”. You will thus make a very natural polite expression, for example: Pourriez-vous me dire, s’il vous plait … ? [Can you tell me, please... Je voudrais un croissant au chocolat s’il vous plait. I'd like a chocolate croissant, please.
• use a question with Inversion - this means to exchange pronoun and verb places, for example: Je puis essayer cette robe? /Can I try on this dress?/- pronounced with question mark tone the phrase is clear but not too polite. Puis-je essayer cette robe? Or Pourrais-je essayer cette robe? - both forms are polite, such as the verb in conditional inclination is one more degree.

polite refusals

• start with an apology - Malheureusement/Je suis désolé mais/ je ne peux pas. (Sorry, I can't)
• start with an expression that says you would like to fulfill the request made to you - J'aimerais te dire oui, mais je ne peux pas. /I'd like to say yes, but I can't.
• express your polite regret - Je regrette de devoir à te dire non. I'm sorry to have to say no.

Appreciation Answered