GENTLY


Meaning of GENTLY in English

adverb

1

BAD : The shop assistant asked me gently what I wanted.

GOOD : The shop assistant asked me politely what I wanted.

◆◆◆

gently = in a way that will not hurt or damage anything: 'She held the little bird very gently.'

politely = in a way that shows good manners: 'He politely refused her offer, saying that he didn't want to trouble her.'

2

BAD : I wonder if you would gently lend us a room for one of the monthly meetings.

GOOD : I wonder if you would kindly lend us a room for one of the monthly meetings.

◆◆◆

In polite formal requests, use if you would/could kindly (or if you would be so kind as to ): 'I would be very grateful if you would kindly allow Julian to leave school early on Tuesday.'

Longman Common Errors English vocabulary.      Английский словарь распространенных ошибок Longman.