[Grammar] I would be grateful if ...

[4ania4]

Dear Teachers,

I need your advice how to construct a request which starts with:

I would be grateful if ...

Is it possible to finish it in the following ways and do these sentences mean the same?

1) I would be grateful if you could give me some tips how to finish the sentence.
2) I would be grateful if you can give me some tips how to finish the sentence.
3) I would be grateful if you gave me some tips how to finish the sentence.

Thank you for your help in advance,

ania

 

[Grumpy]

They all mean the same, but 1) is the most appropriate. You should also say "tips on how.."

 

[4ania4]

Thank you very much for your reply.

I would like to ask one more question. When can you use these structures? Is it possible to use all of them in formal letters? Are there any practical differences between them?

I would be grateful if you could help me,

Ania

 

[Tarheel]

Dear Teachers,

I need your advice how to construct a request which starts with:

I would be grateful if ...

Is it possible to finish it in the following ways and do these sentences mean the same?

1) I would be grateful if you could give me some tips how to finish the sentence.
2) I would be grateful if you can give me some tips how to finish the sentence.
3) I would be grateful if you gave me some tips how to finish the sentence.

[STRIKE]Thank you for your help in advance,[/STRIKE]

ania

It seems as if you are offering your gratitude as payment. Better (in my humble opinion) would be:

Would you please tell me how to...?

​

 

[4ania4]

Thank you for your remark. If I were writing a letter, I would choose Structure 1) or any other I am sure how to use but now when I know that I can use all the three above I would like to learn about them as much as possible. Or maybe someone knows a grammar book in which I could read about these structures.
Kind regards,
Ania