1.3 Asking for something
Ordering and requesting
The key word to remember if you want to be polite while requesting something is gjerne, which does not translate directly into English. This is because it modifies the other words in the sentence, instead of having a straightforward meaning itself. It can mean many things depending on context, but when it comes to requests, the phrase Jeg vil gjerne ha can best be translated as I would like. Gjerne is frequently used along with the verb vil as an indication of politeness whenever one orders or buys something, and also whenever one expresses a desire: Jeg vil gjerne ha en cappuccino. I would like a cappuccino. Jeg vil gjerne ha fisk og kokte poteter. I would like fish and boiled potatoes. Vil gjerne is the most common way of expressing a polite request. Ville gjerne has a similar effect, but is a more restrained request. It implies the speaker’s acceptance of the possibility of disappointment: Jeg ville gjerne ha ris i stedet I should really like / would prefer rice instead of potatoes. for poteter. Skal (will) cannot be used along with gjerne when ordering something or asking for something, but skulle (should) can be, and has the faint implication that the speaker is apologising for bothering the person they are talking to: Jeg skulle gjerne ha … Jeg skulle gjerne vite …
I should like to have … I should like to know …
These phrases, while conveying slightly different nuances, are largely interchangable. If you prefer to stick to one phrase only, vil gjerne is the most versatile. Yet again, the word takk is useful: En kaffe, takk! En øl til, takk!
A coffee, please! Another beer, please!
Do pay attention to your tone when you use this phrase, however. Some people, accidentally or otherwise, turn the request into something sounding unfortunately like a demand. You will sometimes hear people use skal when ordering / buying something, and this is always used without gjerne: Jeg skal ha en cappuccino.
I’m having a cappuccino.
This, however, can very easily come across as curt and impolite, so it is better to stick to phrases that contain gjerne or takk. The waiter in the restaurant, on the other hand, can use skal without being impolite. 12