(一) 把命令变成请求的常用形式: Please, Will you…….., Will you please……..,如: a) Will you give us more detailed information on your requirement? b) Will you please (kindly) let us hear from you on these two points?
(二) 虚拟式(Past Subjunctive From)如:
(a) Would you compare our sample with the goods of other firms?
(b) We would ask you to ship the goods by the first available vessel.
(c) We wish you would let us have your reply soon.
(d) This would seem to confirm our opinion.
(e) We should be grateful if you would help us with your suggestion.
(f) We think if advisable that you should accept this offer at this price.
(g) We should(would) like you to let us know the exact amount.
(h) Perhaps you might like to have a look at the actual goods.
(i) We might be of some service to you in a similar case.
以上的b, f, g, 也可用 will, shall, may, 但是用Past Subjunctive Form则表示更客气和婉转些。
(三) 缓和用法(Mitigation)
为了缓和过分强调或刺激对方,常用: We are afraid, we would say, we may(or, might) say, we(would) think, it seems(or would seem) to us, we(would) suggest, as you are (or: may be) aware, as we need hardly point out等等表达法来缓和语气,如:
(a) It was unwise of you to have done that. We would say that it was unwise of you to have done that.
(b) You ought to have done it. It seems to us that you ought to have done it.
(c) We cannot comply with your request. We are afraid we cannot comply with your request.
(d) Our products are the very best on the market. We might say that our products are the very best on the market.
(e) You must keep the matter to yourselves. You must, we would add, keep the matter to yourselves.
(f) You must cut off your order in half. We would suggest that you cut your order in half.
(g) We have not yet had your reply. It appears that we have not yet had your reply.
(四) 运用被动语气
有时,运用被动语气,比主动语气客气,如: a) You made a very careless mistake. A very careless mistake was made b) You did not enclose the check with your order. The check was not enclosed with your order. c) For the past two years, you did not give us any order. For the past two years, no order has been given us. Or: For the past two years, no business has been materialized between us.
(五) 避免(或力争避免)使用语气强烈或容易引起不快的词汇
a) we demand immediate payment from you demand的意思是ask for(sth) as if ordering, or as if one has a right to, 即带有命令意味的要求。非不得已,应尽可能避免使用demand而改用request 如: We request your immediate payment.
b) We are disgusted with your manner of doing business. disguste意味hate而且有strong feeling of dislike or distasted, 既"厌恶"的意思, 因此,还是婉转或含蓄一些为宜,如: We are not completely satisfied with your manner of doing business.
c) We must refuse your offer. Must………带有威胁性的意味(minatory tone),不如改为: We regret that we are unable to accept your offer. Or: We regret that we are not in a position to accept your offer.
d) We want you to assist us 带有傲慢或长者的口吻(superior tone),不如改为: Your assistance would be appreciated.
(六) 使用高兴,遗憾,感谢等词汇及表达法
(1) We have pleasure of -ing……. We have pleasure in -ing……. It is with pleasure that we do so It gives us(great, much) pleasure to do so We are pleased for us to do so It's a pleasure for us to do so. We are glad(or: delighted) that you do so We shall gladly do so We shall feel happy if you will do so We are happy to do so
(2) 表示感谢的表达法有: We are (very, most) appreciative of your doing so We are gratified to learn that you do so We shall be (or: feel) obliged by your doing so We shall be obliged if you will do so You will oblige us by doing so We shall be grateful to you if you will do so We shall appreciate your doing so We shall appreciate it if you will do so We shall thank you to do so It will be appreciated if……. We are thankful that you do so