Help asking an employee to complete a task

Question

I am trying to ask someone to refill a container with paper towels - this person works different hours than I do, so I wanted to leave a polite note on the bin. This is the sentence I have worked out, but I'd appreciate any comments or changes!

¿Podría por favor llene este con papeles de cocina todas las noches? ¡Gracias!

Hola, welcome to the forum! - rac1, May 18, 2012

Answer 1

Here is my attempt: Por favor, ¿Podría llenar este dispensador con toallas de papel cada noche? ¡Gracias!

Hola welcome to the forum!! Hope this helps :) - cheeselur, May 18, 2012

I hope it helps, too. I'm glad to see you here! - Noetol, May 18, 2012

Me gustó. Educado y conciso. - comunacho, May 18, 2012

¡Gracias, comunacho! - Noetol, May 18, 2012

Answer 2

Noetol's translation looks good, you may also want to consider "Favor de llenar el dispensador con toallas de papel cada noche" (Please fill the dispensor with paper towels every night."

Answer 3

I have noticed that when we are speaking to someone else who doesn't know English well, we tend to speak louder and over-explain. Once one becomes comfortable with trying to communicate with others who don't speak your language, you learn to not speak loud and not over-explain.

So, in this case, I think I would put on the note taped to the container, "Favor de llenarlo cada noche. Gracias."

I am not sure that I am right at all. So, I will be interested to hear what hispanohablantes think of this answer, and thanks to all who respond. Spanish Dict is a great place to learn!

The message is all right, but I think in cases like this it's better to over-explain. It's the problem with written language, the lack of intonation. - comunacho, May 22, 2012