I would greatly appreciate if you could pay attention to this text. Do you ever question yourself if you are asking for something in a correct way? Or if you are replying in a good and educated manner?
Let’s be real, your immediate answer will surely be yes, but are you really sure that the words you use are socially correct? Are you positive that, when you want to ask for a favor, you are inquiring it in a gracious manner?
Let’s face it, what really is being greatly appreciated? What does that two words really mean? Do we say things in a certain style only to get our way and have our request satisfied?
Can we use polite manners only to ask for something or should we use it to other things like suggest that something is wrong with a text, for example? Sure!
See, this way the person won’t be too much offended. There are several ways to ask for favors and say that we are greatly appreciated by it, in the English language the options are numerous in theory, but is the theory always in practice or we have theoretical ways and practical ones? So innumerous questions that surely requires an answer.
Let’s start with the definition of the words greatly and appreciated, in hope we can reach a detailed understanding of this topic, in the end. Greatly is a formal adverb, in general comes before a verb conjugated in the participle. It has a few uses like accentuate the meaning of a verb in the sentence and expressing gratitude.
Here’s two examples of uses to the adverb greatly:
- The student’s reaction to the book has varied greatly. (to emphasize the verb in the sentence)
- Your assistance was greatly appreciated. (to express thankfulness)
Regarding to the word appreciated, it is a verb, ‘to appreciate’, and it can be employed in several different ways. To see those uses more clearly, nothing better than a list illustrated with some examples:
To diagnose positive qualities
- You can’t appreciate the painting without seeing it closely.
To be appreciative for the actions of another person.
- I would appreciate if you paid right now.
- We would appreciate you telling us if you have any questions.
To show dislike of other people actions
- I didn’t appreciate the way you talked to me.
To display that the value of something has increased over time
- His company has appreciated in the last two years.
To comprehend that something is true
- You didn’t completely appreciate she was very upset with that situation.
So, it is relevant to say that the adverb greatly is very complete because we can tangle the two uses, it is to say that this adverb can emphasize the expression of gratefulness, and therefore, show to the other person that we are sincerely thankful.
Grammatically speaking, there are some rules we must follow to ask for things to someone else, but it is also like that in our daily life? Do we really tend to choose long and dull sentences when we are in an informal context or we skip that part and rush to the simple way?
We all know that those boring sentences aren’t our first choice. When we are with our family and with our closest friends, in most part of the cases, we ask for something and we add the word please.
It is a simplified form and it is not incorrect in a social and polite way. We don’t have to be always saying that we would be greatly appreciated if someone does something for us.
We should simplify the language when we are talking, that’s the way to do it, right? Why complicate things when we are in a familiar environment?
Let’s see a few examples of an informal way to ask for something to someone:
- Could you please turn the volume down?
- Clean up your room, if you please.
This are three simple ways to ask for a favor that can be used with family and friends. And the constitution it’s simple, just say what you want and complete the request with the word please.
You still are being polite in this manner. There are other forms too, the ones listed before are only the simplest.
Next let’s check some different ways, that it can be consider a way of buttering someone up:
- You would mark my day if you brought me lunch.
- It would be breathtaking if you could buy some cigarettes for me.
Of course, we shouldn’t employ this sort of sentences at work. For that, there are so many more sentences that can be used, much more formal and appropriated for the work place.
We ought to pick the usage of a more complete sentence, because we do not know for sure the extendable of the bound between us, our employers and colleagues.
The same happens with strangers, if we do not have sure how the other person it’s going to react or answer we must be the most colloquial as possible. The funny part is that, in most part of the cases, an if clause is call into action.
For those who do not remember an if clause is a type of sentence that only serves to express conditions. There are three distinguish types of this clauses: the first one where the situation it’s possible, the second says that the condition it’s conceivable in theory and, finally the third that tells us that the condition it’s not possible.
Returning to our sentences, some of the sentences we should use at work can also be used with family and friends, but only a few, because some of the sentences are too much idiomatic to be used in an informal situation.
Let’s see a list of examples of sentences more appropriated to the work place:
- I would be very grateful/thankful if you could get me a pen.
- It would be of a great aid if you could take some copies of this documents.
- I would sincerely appreciate your assistance in this text.
- Your extended understanding on this subject would help me immensely.
- Would you please do us the honor of attend to the meeting the day after tomorrow?
- I would truly appreciate it if you were able to help me fix this computer.
Until this point we’ve been talking about asking for favors. Nevertheless, if we must inquire nicely we also have to respond accordingly.
The most common expression to show gratefulness it keeps being ‘thank you’, but we can employ more terms than just saying ‘thank you’.
Like what happens with the sentences used to request for favors, here we also have terminologies that are more applied to an informal situation and others to formal ones.
In an informal environment saying ‘thank you’ and ‘that is great’ is sufficient.
Like when we are asking, here we also will save on words. However, in the work place, the formal atmosphere, we want to use more words than usual, that way we can emphasize how tremendously grateful we actual are, so that our coworkers and bosses feel good about themselves for helping us. It is a good technic to make them be nicer to you.
Let’s see some samples of how you can demonstrate your appreciation:
- I am greatly appreciated by your unconditionally help.
- To say I had appreciated what you did would be an understatement.
- You don’t know how considerably I appreciate the support you provided me.
It is known by everyone that exist many forms to ask for something and to show thankfulness, some ways are better than others.
Is it really that important to ask for a favor in a nice way? Of course it is! Sometimes isn’t what we say that it’s important but how we say it.
What’s the point of telling someone I would greatly appreciate if you could get me that magazine, if we say it with an ironic tone, for instance? I’m using nice words but my tone leaves too much to desire.
So, it’s important to understand that not only we have to pay attention to the words we use but also to the tone that we choose when we say those very words.
Who knows? Sometimes we can ask someone a favor in a simple way, (for example Get me that magazine, please) and if we are humble enough we can get a positive answer.
Other times it is also important to show that we are truly grateful instead of telling, in most part of the cases showing can be much more elucidative than telling.
It’s very hard to question what we see, but it’s very easy not to believe in what we hear.
Never forget, if the person that does you a favor is sure that you really appreciated the effort they did to assist you in what you needed, then it’s almost certain that they will help again, in the future.
Please write your comment below.
Great post about how little variations can change the meaning ever so slightly… That’s probably one of the most difficult things about learning another language, if it’s already hard in your native language….