9 Best Replies To “Can I Ask You A Question?” (Polite)

Many times, people will ask you “can I ask you a question?” before actually asking the question that they mean to ask. It can be tricky to know how to answer these “pre-question questions”. This article will provide you with several polite ways to answer them.

The three preferred ways that you can politely answer the “can I ask you a question” question are “yes you can”, “ask away” and “sure thing”. All three of these are simple and efficient phrases that effectively communicate the idea that the person has permission to ask the question.

Yes You Can

Many people’s first instinct to reply to this question would be to present a snarky answer. However, that wouldn’t be very polite. When it comes to politeness, nothing could beat a simple “Yes you can”. This phrase matches the way that the person’s question was phrased.

Sometimes, simple is best, and that’s the case with “yes you can”. There’s really not a lot to explain with this phrase: Simply put, you’re letting the person ask their question.

Not only is “yes you can” very straightforward, but it’s also very clear and concise. Using “yes you can”, no one will ever misunderstand what you mean, because it’s a very simply phrase.

Here are a few example exchanges that will showcase how you can use “yes you can”:

• Can I ask you a question about the schedule for this month?
• Yes you can.

• Can I ask you a question about the way that this particular form should be filled out?
• Yes you can.

Ask Away

When someone asks you if they can ask you a question, that’s not a very complicated question. In fact, it can be answered in really small, simple ways. “Ask away” is one of these ways, and it’s a great one, too. Using “ask away”, you’re telling the person to continue.

“Ask away” also has the advantage of being a catchy phrase that plenty of people use. This makes it perfect to succinctly answer the person’s question, and let them know that they may ask anything.

All of this makes “ask away” a great phrase you can use to quickly tell someone to ask a question, in a very catchy way.

Here are a couple of conversations that will teach you how to properly use “ask away”:

• Hi, may I ask you a quick procedural question?
• Ask away.
• Hello, I’m sorry to bother you. Can I ask you a question about the new applications?
• Ask away.

Sure Thing

“Sure thing” is a very polite, yet also somewhat casual way to let someone know that they may ask you a question. By using “sure thing”, you’re letting the person know that you’re more than ready to answer whatever question they might have.

“Sure thing” is also a great phrase to use because it’s very laid-back and relaxed. When you use it, you’re letting the person know that you don’t think this is necessarily a big deal.

By using “sure thing”, you’re encouraging them to relax, take a breath, and understand that they’re speaking in confidence, and can ask about anything.

Here are some examples that will teach you how to properly use “sure thing”:

• Hey, could I ask you a question really quick?
• Sure thing.

• Hello! I’m sorry to bother you this late at night. Could I ask you a question?
• Sure thing.

Go Ahead

There are plenty of very simple and direct ways to let people know that they can ask you a question. One of the best ones to use is “go ahead”. “Go ahead” is a good way to politely tell the person that they should ask their question.

When you say “go ahead”, you’re not just merely letting the person know that they can ask the question that they want to ask in the first place.

You’re also telling them to ask that question, subtly hinting that you’re curious as to what their inquiry is in the first place, and that you’re willing to help.

These are some of the best examples for you to learn how to use “go ahead” in a conversation:

• Hi, I was wondering if I could ask you a quick question.
• Go ahead.

• Hello. Could I ask you a question about the way that this process works?
• Go ahead.

Of Course You Can Ask

You might think that “of course you can ask” is a regular phrase that has nothing to differentiate it from other phrases you could use to tell someone that they can ask a question. However, this phrase implies a lot of trust from you to the other person.

When you use “of course you can ask”, you’re letting the person know that it’s a given that they can ask you whatever they want to. You’re telling them that they don’t need to ask

“Of course you can ask” is, then, one of the best phrases you can use for someone with whom you have a lot of trust.

Here are some examples for how you can use “of course you can ask” in conversation:

• I’m sorry to bother you, could I ask you a question for a brief moment?
• Of course you can ask.

• Hi! I was wondering if I could ask you some questions really quickly.
• Of course you can ask.

I’m Listening

If you want a quirky, yet still very polite way to convey the fact that you’re willing to answer someone’s question, then “I’m listening” is what you want to use. It’s a fun and elegant way to let someone know that they should keep talking and ask their question.

When you say “I’m listening”, you’re letting the person know that you want to listen to what they want to say. This will encourage them to keep on talking and ask the question they have.

Letting people know that you want to listen to what they have to say can be extremely valuable for them, as it can give them confidence that they might lack otherwise.

Here are some examples that showcase how to properly use “I’m listening” in a conversation:

• Hey. I had an important question that I wanted to ask you.
• I’m listening.

• I have something that I want to ask you about.
• I’m listening.

Sure, What’s The Question?

A good way to lead someone to ask the question that they want to ask is to simply say “sure, what’s the question?”. A common point that all of these replies have is that they are all very direct and straightforward. This one does not disappoint in that regard, either.

This answer is made up of two main parts. The first one is “Sure”, which lets the person know that they can, indeed, ask the question they wanted to ask.

The second part of the answer is “what’s the question?”, and it’s actually a question in and of itself. By using it, you’re making it clear that you want to know what the question is.

Here are some examples of how you would use “sure, what’s the question?” in a conversation:

• Hey, I’ve got a question I have wanted to ask you for some time now.
• Sure, what’s the question?

• Good evening. I wanted to see if I could ask you an important question.
• Sure, what’s the question?

I’m All Ears

When thinking about the different ways that you could answer someone’s request for a question, you might want to use something a little less direct and a little more idiomatic. The expression “I’m all ears” is perfect for these situations. When you use it, the person will ask their question.

The expression “I’m all ears” is used when someone is willing to listen to whatever someone has to say. This makes it a great expression for when someone asks if they can ask a question.

In a sense, “I’m all ears” is also a very multifaceted expression, as it’s a little bit fun and quirky, but still perfectly polite and appropriate for more formal contexts.

Here are some conversations that showcase the proper use of “I’m all ears”:

• Hi, I wanted to see if I could ask you a few questions, they won’t take long at all.
• I’m all ears.

• Hello, I wanted to pick your brain for half an hour with some important project questions.
• I’m all ears.

How May I Help You?

“How may I help you” is a particularly formal expression. That isn’t to say that it’s inappropriate for more casual contexts, as you could still very much use it in those scenarios. However, it’s perfect for situations where you want to be particularly polite.

The phrase “how may I help you” is a great follow up to use when someone wants to ask you a question. You can reply to their request for a question with this phrase.

“How may I help you” invites the person to elaborate on what they could use your assistance for, which in this case is by asking a question that you can answer.

Here are a couple of examples of conversations that include “how may I help you?” in them:

• Hi, good morning, I wonder if I could ask you a question before our shift starts.
• How may I help you?

• Good afternoon. Could I ask you a question about the new housing project?
• How may I help you?

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