Is it possible if I ask you to help me snag Lady Gaga’s concert tickets tomorrow? I may have to work long hours tomorrow.
(如果明天我請你幫我搶女神卡卡演唱會的票,是有可能的嗎?我明天或許必須加班。)
Is it okay if you take the kids to their piano lessons today? I’m not feeling well right now.
(如果你今天帶孩子們去上鋼琴課,是可以的嗎?我現在身體不舒服。)
Is it convenient for you if you get to the conference room before 8:30 a.m.? I need someone to set up everything with me.
(如果你早上八點半前到會議室,對你來說方便嗎?我需要一個人和我一起把所有的東西都架設好。)
另外,若把以上句型中的 is 變成 would be,像這樣 Would it be possible if…?、Would it be okay if…?、Would it be convenient if…?,聽起來禮貌度加倍喔。舉些例子:
Would it be possible if we change rooms? This room smells like cigarettes everywhere, which makes me feel uncomfortable.
(如果我們換房間,是有可能的嗎?這間房間聞起來到處都是菸味,這讓我覺得不舒服。)
Would it be okay if I change seats with you? I really want to sit with my friends.
(如果我跟你換座位,是可以的嗎?我真的很想和我的朋友們一起坐。)
I know the check-in time of your B&B is 2 p.m., but would it be convenient for you if you let us in and leave our luggage there first at about 10 o’clock?
wonder 是動詞「想知道」,if 在這裡則是「是否」的意思,所以 I was wondering if…? 就是「我正在想是否...」。
你有注意到嗎?這裡也是習慣用過去式動詞 was,來呈現委婉有禮的感覺喔!可以參考以下例子:
I was wondering if I could borrow your car tomorrow morning? I need to go to the airport to pick up a client, but the auto repair shop just called me and said my car won’t be ready until tomorrow afternoon.
另外,若你有需要的話,也可以把 I was wondering if…?(我正在想是否...)改成 We were wondering if…?(我們正在想是否...),像這樣:
We were wondering if you could look after our dog for a couple of days next month? We are thinking about going to Las Vegas to celebrate our 5th anniversary.