JLPT N2Business speech and mailSoft

ばと思おもいますI'd be glad if; I hope to

ご確かく認にんいただければと思おもいます, "I'd be glad if you could check it": a soft way to ask, or to say what you hope, in business speech and mail. The ば sentence stops short, and "I'd be glad" is left unsaid.

asking

欠けっ席せきの場ば合あいは、前ぜん日じつまでにお知しらせいただければと思おもいます。

If you can't attend, I'd be grateful if you could let us know by the day before.

hoping

少すこしでもお役やくに立たてればと思おもいます。

I hope I can be of some help.

Asking

Verb in the て-form + いただければ + と思おもいます　　お／ご～ + いただければ + と思おもいます

いただければ is いただける, "can receive", in its ば-form: "if I could have you…".

Hoping

Verb in the ば-form + と思おもいます

Mostly a "can" form or なる: お役やくに立たてれば, できれば, 参さん考こうになれば.

Not "I think": と思おもいます isn't giving an opinion here. It rounds off a wish.
Said to: Customers, colleagues, a boss, an audience.
Where you'll meet it: Business mail, meetings, talks and announcements.

Asking

There is no question in it, so nobody is pressed for an answer.

ご質しつ問もんは説せつ明めい会かいの終しゅう了りょう後ごにお寄よせいただければと思おもいます。

We'd be grateful if you could send in your questions after the information session.

参さん加か者しゃの皆みな様さまには、名な札ふだを見みえる位い置ちに着つけていただければと思おもいます。

We'd be grateful if all participants could wear their name tags where they can be seen.

Hoping

When what comes before ば is something you can do, or how things turn out, nobody is asked. It is a modest "I hope", or in a talk "I'd like to".

本ほん日じつは、新あたらしいサービスについてご紹しょう介かいできればと思おもいます。

Today I'd like to tell you about our new service.

この資し料りょうが少すこしでもご参さん考こうになればと思おもいます。

I hope this material will be of some use to you.

It is soft on purpose

The softness is in the wording. A request with a date in it is still one you are expected to meet. A rule, or a deadline that can't move, is said outright.

申しん請せい書しょは本ほん日じつ中ちゅうにご提てい出しゅついただければと思おもいます。

We'd be grateful if you could submit the application form by the end of today.

Asked softly. They still expect it today.

申しん請せい書しょは本ほん日じつ中ちゅうに提てい出しゅつしてください。

Please submit the application form by the end of today.

Said outright: it has to be today.

Close neighbours

ていただけますかN4

A direct question: it waits for a yes or a no.

この資し料りょうを先さきに読よんでいただけますか。

Could you read this material first?

いただければ幸さいわいですN3

The finished sentence, with "I would be grateful" said. Stiffer, and mostly written.

添てん付ぷした資し料りょうをご覧らんいただければ幸さいわいです。

I would be grateful if you could look over the attached materials.

ていただきたいN3

Says outright what you want: polite, and firmer.

参さん加か者しゃの皆みな様さまには、開かい始し時じ刻こくまでに着ちゃく席せきしていただきたいと思おもいます。

We ask all participants to be in their seats by the starting time.

Check yourself

1What does this mean?

明日あしたまでにお返へん事じいただければと思おもいます。

Choose an answer to see why.

2What is the writer doing?

少すこしでもお力ちからになれればと思おもいます。

Choose an answer to see why.

More detail

たら does the same job as れば, a little more conversationally. More formal endings: と思おもっております and と存ぞんじます.

必ひつ要ような修しゅう正せい点てんをお知しらせいただけたらと思おもいます。

I'd appreciate it if you could let me know what needs to be revised.

今こん後ごともご指し導どういただければと思おもっております。

I hope I may continue to have your guidance.

ご検けん討とういただければと存ぞんじます。

I would be grateful if you would consider it.

More sentences

本ほん資し料りょうをご確かく認にんのうえ、金きん曜よう日びまでにご回かい答とういただければと思おもいます。

After reviewing this document, we would appreciate it if you could respond by Friday.

ご意い見けんは来らい週しゅうまでにお寄よせいただければと思おもいます。

We would appreciate receiving your comments by next week.

会かい場じょう内ないでは、携けい帯たい電でん話わをマナーモードに設せっ定ていしていただければと思おもいます。

Inside the venue, we'd be grateful if you could set your cell phone to silent mode.

個こ人じん情じょう報ほうはメール本ほん文ぶんに記き載さいしないでいただければと思おもいます。

We would appreciate it if you did not include personal information in the body of the email.

ないでいただければ: what you would like someone not to do.

Compared with similar forms

Asking someone to do something