könnten Sie, ich hätte gern: polite requests and wishes
CEFR B1 · part 2
edumaterial's parts within the level. The European framework does not subdivide them.
The future with werden, and why it is hardly ever usedBuilding the future with werden conjugated and the infinitive at the end, and —what…entweder…oder, nicht nur…sondern auch: two-part connectorsLinking two ideas with the five commonest pairs —entweder…oder, sowohl…als auch…warten auf, denken an: verbs with a fixed preposition, and the da- and wo- that go with themLearning the verb with its preposition attached, as one word —warten AUF, denken AN…der Deutsche, etwas Gutes: adjectives turned into nounsTurning an adjective into a noun, which German does every day: der Alte, die Kleine, das…Indirect questions: ob and the seven W-words, with the verb at the endAsking politely rather than bluntly, which is what they are really for: Wissen Sie, wo…obwohl, damit and um…zu: although, so that and in order toExpressing purpose and concession, which is what turns two loose sentences into an…The rule, in three lines
German politeness lives in the Konjunktiv, not in adding «please». Könnten Sie mir helfen? rather than Können Sie. Ich hätte gern einen Kaffee or Ich möchte einen Kaffee rather than Ich will. And for wishes, two formulas: wenn … nur with a Konjunktiv — Wenn ich nur mehr Zeit hätte! — and ich wünschte.
The usual slip. Asking in the present: Können Sie mir helfen? is not wrong but sounds like a demand, and Ich will einen Kaffee in a café sounds plainly rude. The opposite mistake exists too: stacking politeness formulas. Könnten Sie bitte is already polite.
Why it catches you out. English does the same with «could» and «would like», so this is the most transferable unit of the whole peldaño. One warning: English piles up softeners —«I was wondering if you could possibly»— and German does not.