(no subject)

[wolfie-18.livejournal.com]

I know that хотеть goes with чтобы when you're introducing another cause, but I can't find a way around of using если when saying "I wanted to know whether or not you had (item)" when asking some employer at a store. My book says I can't use если when using "whether," only use ли. But... ok, in essence, I have no clue how to say it in Russian.

Comments

[ars-longa.livejournal.com]

Я хочу знать, есть ли у вас этот предмет?

Я хотела узнать, есть ли у вас этот предмет?

Two possible options

[ahitech.livejournal.com]

I think, the best way to say it will be:

Я хотел бы (у)знать, была ли у вас (такая-то вещь)

Or Мне хотелось бы (у)знать, была ли у вас...

Note that second option sounds somehow more polite - its literal translation will be "I'd wish to know whether you had..." - so use the first option at department store ;) . Both узнать and знать are possible to use here. Feminine gender of была is used because вещь ("item") is feminine; this word is in past tense - есть ли у вас will be correct form to use if you want to know whether they have smth. currently.

[superslayer18.livejournal.com]

Well the translation of the Russian sentence would probably be something like "I want to know if you have (item)".

English sentences can be said in like 1239408230498043577 different ways, and all of them are correct. I've found that when dealing with foreign languages, especially Russian, you're best off just simplifying the sentences (like to what I wrote) and THEN translating it.

It might be something like "Я хочу знать если у вас...", or maybe just "У вас нет...". The latter being what I learned to ask when you wanted change or something, which might work with pretty much any item.

[kalaus.livejournal.com]

<...> you're best off just simplifying the sentences <...> and THEN translating it.
===
Good approach. Alternative versions (for the store situation) are

-- (Подскажите), нет (ли) у вас (в продаже) белых футболок без рисунка?
-- (Подскажите), есть (ли) у вас (в продаже) белые футболки без рисунка?

where parenthesized parts can be omitted without any change in meaning, politeness level or colloquiality.

[kehlen-crow.livejournal.com]

lol,
I'd say exactly the same thing about English. The whole problem is - when you start learning a language you know only 1,2,3 ways out of these 1239408230498043577 and try to simplify everything just to be sure you say it correctly :D

[cema.livejournal.com]

Многие эмигранты в США так и говорят: "хотел бы знать, если у вас есть...", но это считается ошибкой. Правильно было бы: "хотел бы знать, есть ли у вас..." или даже так; "хотел бы знать: у вас есть...?" Notice the question mark in the latter case.

[uncle-becher.livejournal.com]

you have a wonderful book, I wish everyone would've followed it :)))

you can use "нет ли у вас" as a replacement for "whether or not you had" -- it'll work.

[dyrbaglyz.livejournal.com]

(item) есть?

[wolk-off.livejournal.com]

This is really rude and mean, and I would never recommend it to anybody for polite everyday use.