Direkte Befehle
können den
Angesprochenen demotivieren oder bei ihm Widerstand wecken, denn dem
Angesprochenen bleibt so gut wie kein Spielraum. Eleganter in Hinblick
auf das gegenseitige Auskommen ist es, anstelle eines direkten Befehles
eine Gefälligkeit zu erbitten. Wie man dies tut und wie man
auf
eine solche Bitte im Englischen reagiert, wird nun erläutert:
Instruktionen in Form von höflichen Bitten
- Is
there any way you can ... ?
- I
don't suppose you could ... ?
- Do
you mind ... ?
- Would
you mind ... -ing ... ?
- Would
you do me a favour and ... ?
- I
was wondering if you could ... .
- I'd
really appreciate if you could ... .
- It
would be gratefeful if you could ... . (formal)
Would you mind
writing the report by lunch?
Would you do me
a favour and open the window?
Reaktionen auf solche Bitten
- Of
course, that will be no trouble at all.
- I'll
be glad to help you.
- Of
ourse, I'll get down to it right away.
- Certainly.
- I'm
pleased I can be of any help.
- I'll
do that with pleasure.
- Sure
I could. Don't worry. I'm glad that I can help.
- I'd
only be too pleased to ... .
- I'm
really sorry but ... .
- I'm sorry, I can't make it. ... .
- Actually,
I don't think I can/could ... .