Making requests and offers
Conversation: Helping a classmate
JIM: Hey, buddy, can I ask you a favor?
ALI: Sure—what can I do for you?
JIM: I wonder if you’d be willing to lend me your biology notes. I missed a couple of classes when I was sick, and now I’m totally lost.
ALI: OK. Why don’t we go to the library and copy my notebook and then go to your place and go over the lessons. I’m acing biology this semester, so I’m sure I can get you back on track.
Later:
JIM: Oh, man, that will be a load off my shoulders. I can’t thank you enough.
ALI: Glad to help. As a matter of fact, I have a favor to ask of you.
JIM: Oh yeah? Don’t tell me you need more advice about your girlfriend!
ALI: Well, not exactly. It’s that her sister is coming up for the weekend, and I need to find her a date. Any chance you’d go out with her on Saturday night? We’d all four go to the theater and then out to eat.
JIM: Look, I already agreed to go to the movies with Ben. But how about if I invite her to go to the movies with us instead? Of course, afterward we’d grab a bite to eat, but it won’t be anything fancy.
ALI: That sounds great to me. Let me see what Jessica thinks about it, and I’ll get back to you ASAP.
JIM: Good. And by the way, thanks again for the help with biology. I think I’m on top of it now.
ALI: No problem. Don’t hesitate to call me if you have any questions.
JIM: Thanks, buddy. See you later.
Improving your conversation
Making requests
A direct command is the strongest way to request urgent attention.
Take her to the hospital!
Let us rest!
Call the police!
Help me!
Can you can also be used to request attention to a need.
Can you get me to a hospital right away?
Can you call the police?
Can you help me?
A direct command for assistance in attaining something you want (rather than something you need) is considered rude. Can you is also a little abrupt.
Will you is the most direct way to request what you want and should always be preceded or followed by please.
Will you please take me to the airport?
Please, will you bring me a glass of water?
Could you (please) is a more polite way to request what you want.
Could you babysit for my daughter this weekend?
Could you tell us how to get to Main Street from here?
Would you (please) is an even more polite way to request what you want.
Would you (be able to) mow the lawn for me this weekend?
Would you take me to the store this afternoon?
Would you mind + -ing is the most formal way to ask someone to do something for you.
Would you mind helping me with these packages?
Would you mind telling us how to get to the main highway?
Would you mind if + subjunctive is a very polite way to ask permission to do something.
To mind can mean not be happy about.
A favor is something that someone does to help someone else out.
Offering assistance
Several expressions are used to offer a favor or assistance.
I’ll + verb indicates that you are taking action in an emergency. An alternative way to express this is to use the present progressive tense.
I’ll take you to the hospital.
I’m calling the police.
Would you like to + basic verb or would you like me to + basic verb can be used when what the person needs is obvious but not urgent.
I see you’re tired. Would you like to sit down?
I see you need a ride. Would you like me to take you home?
Let me know if I can help you or I’ll be glad to help you are formal expressions used by receptionists, secretaries, salesclerks, or other people whose jobs involve providing services to the public.
The doctor will be with you shortly. In the meantime, let me know if I can help you.
Feel free to look through our merchandise, and if you see anything you like or have any questions, I’ll be glad to help you.
Can I help you? is a way to offer assistance to a stranger in need. An alternative expression is Let me help you.
You look lost. Can I help you?
You took quite a fall. Let me help you get up.
How can I help you? is a way to offer assistance to someone who seems to want something. An alternative expression is What can I do for you?
I’m the doctor’s receptionist. How can I help you?
I see you’re waiting for a salesperson. What can I do for you?
Is there any way I can help you? indicates a sincere offer of help to someone you know well. Alternative expressions are Is there anything I can do for you?/Is there anything I can do to help?
Mom, I know you’re not feeling well. Is there any way I can help you?
So you’re moving to your new house next week! Is there anything I can do to help?
Oh yeah
The expression oh yeah can have different meanings, depending on the intonation. In the example conversation, with ascending intonation (from low to high), it affirms interest in what was just said. Following is another example:
When oh yeah has descending intonation (from high to low), it affirms previous knowledge of what was just said.
It’s (just) that . . .
It’s (just) that . . . is an expression that precedes an explanation of something just mentioned or questioned. It indicates that the speaker expects the hearer to understand and accept the explanation.
Another way to express this is the thing is, . . .
Date
A date is an appointment with someone—often for the prospect of a romantic connection—for a social occasion.
I’d really like to go to dinner with you on Friday, Rita, but I have a date with that new guy at work. He invited me to go to the movies with him.
Totally
Totally means completely, 100 percent, very.
Oh, the party was totally awesome.
We were totally confused by his explanation.
Be willing
To be willing means to accept participation in an activity.
Back on track
To be back on track means to be back to normal after a difficult period.
Tran missed three practices after he sprained his ankle, but he’s been doing extra training, and now he’s back on track with the rest of the team.
The divorce was hard, but Phil is now getting his life back on track.
On top of it
To be on top of it means to fully understand something or to be able to handle something.
The math course is hard, but I think he’s on top of it.
There was a lot to learn in my new job, but now I’m on top of it.
A load off my shoulders/mind
A load off my shoulders/mind is a big relief from responsibility or worry.
When Jan offered to take care of my mother, it was a huge load off my shoulders.
The other driver admitted that the accident was his fault, and his insurance company paid for my car repairs. That sure was a load off my mind.
Miss
To miss can mean to not be able to attend an event or participate in normal activities.
He missed a week of work when he was sick.
You played the wrong card. Now you have to miss your turn.
Miss can also mean to arrive too late for a form of public transportation.
We got stuck in traffic and missed our plane. Now we have to reschedule.
Miss can also mean to feel nostalgic or sad about a person you haven’t seen, a place you haven’t been to, or an activity you haven’t participated in for a while.
I miss you, I miss Arlington, and I miss hanging out with you guys.
Miss can also mean failure to answer a question correctly on a test or to connect with a ball (or other object) in a game.
She missed six questions on the test and failed it.
You’d better get your eyes checked—you missed the ball three times!
Go and come
To go means to move from here or there to another place.
I’m going to the airport tonight.
When are you going to Colorado?
To come can mean to move from there to here.
(I am at work now.) I’m coming to work early tomorrow.
(I am in Colorado.) When are you coming to Colorado?
To come can also mean to move from here to there—when the person you are talking to is expected to be there.
(I am at work now; you are at home.) I’m coming home early this afternoon.
(I am in Virginia; you are in Colorado.) I’m coming to Colorado in August.
(We are both at the office.) I hope you can come to the party at my house next week.
To go over can emphasize that the movement from here to there or to another place is short.
Go over to your neighbor’s house and see if she is at home.
To go over can also mean to read or review something in order to understand or remember it better.
I’m going to go over my notes tonight. We have a big test tomorrow.
To come over emphasizes that the movement toward you or toward the person you are speaking to is short.
I’m a little scared. Can you come over?
Her friends came over yesterday and stayed all afternoon.
Come on over is an informal invitation that emphasizes that the distance is really short.
To go ahead means to continue with one’s plans.
To go ahead and + basic verb means to encourage someone to do something he or she may be hesitating about.
To go ahead and do something is also a way of saying that you are going to do it right away.
Ace
To ace means to get a very good grade with little effort.
I didn’t know he was so smart. He’s acing trigonometry.
Fancy
Fancy is used to describe something elegant, possibly with intricate details.
She wore a very fancy dress with lots of ruffles and bows.
It was a fancy party. There were flowers and candles everywhere, and there was a seven-course, sit-down dinner for more than a hundred guests.
Any chance . . . ?
Any chance . . . ? is used to ask informally if something is possible or true.
Any chance you have a lawn mower I could borrow?
Any chance we could get together for a cup of coffee?
How about if . . . ?
The expression how about if . . . ? offers a suggestion for action by one or more people.
We have a long weekend coming up. How about if we all go to the beach?
I know you don’t have enough money to buy the car. How about if I lend it to you?
I’ll get back to you
I’ll get back to you is a promise to find information for someone and contact him or her as soon as you have it.
I don’t know how much the real estate tax on this house is, but I’ll find out and get back to you right away.
ASAP
ASAP means as soon as possible.
Call me ASAP. I have to make up my mind tonight, and I need your advice.
Instead
Instead indicates a replacement for something else. It is placed after the word that indicates the replacement.
We thought about going to the beach, but went to the mountains instead.
Instead of is used before the replaced alternative.
He bought a truck instead of a car.
We went to the mountains instead of going to the beach.
Instead of going to the beach, we went to the mountains.
By the way
By the way introduces a new topic or a change in subject in the middle of a conversation.
Yes, I really like my new job. By the way, have you heard from Kevin?
Sophia said she would take care of the dog while we’re away. By the way, are you still willing to water the plants?
Don’t hesitate
Don’t hesitate is a way to indicate your willingness to be available for someone.
If you have any questions about this contract, don’t hesitate to call me.
See you later
See you later is an informal way of saying good-bye. Alternative expressions include see ya/later/bye/ciao.
OK, I’ve gotta run. See you later.
Circle the most appropriate expression for each situation.
1. You are ready to order a meal in a restaurant. You say to the server:
a. I want the chicken.
b. I’d like the chicken, please.
c. Can you bring me the chicken?
d. Would you bring me the chicken?
2. A woman has just fallen down and cannot get up. You say to someone with a phone:
a. Would you mind calling an ambulance?
b. Could you call an ambulance?
c. Would you like to call an ambulance, please?
d. Call an ambulance!
3. Your car has broken down and your cell phone’s battery is dead. You say to a stranger:
a. Would you mind if I borrowed your cell phone to call my mechanic?
b. Hey, can I borrow your phone?
c. Let me use your phone!
d. Give me your phone, please.
4. You are talking with your academic adviser at the university. You say:
a. How many credits should I get in order to graduate?
b. How many credits may I get in order to graduate?
c. How many credits could I get in order to graduate?
d. How many credits do I need to get in order to graduate?
5. A tow truck has come to take your car to the mechanic’s garage. You say to the driver:
a. Would you like to give me a ride to the garage?
b. Give me a ride to the garage!
c. Can you give me a ride to the garage?
d. I’m willing to ride with you to the garage.
6. A poll is being taken concerning an upcoming election. You say:
a. I need Walters to win.
b. I have to have Walters win.
c. I would want Walters to win.
d. I want Walters to win.
Write an appropriate question or command for each situation.
1. You want the lady in front of you in the theater to take off her large hat so you can see.
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2. You want to borrow a ladder from your neighbor.
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3. You want a friend to lend you $20.
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4. You want your brother to lend you $20.
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5. You are in Washington, D.C. You want a stranger on the street to give you directions to the White House.
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6. You want to borrow a pen from your classmate.
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7. You want the fire department to come to your house to put out a fire.
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8. You want a taxi driver to take you to the airport.
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9. You are in a car with several friends. You want the driver to drop you off at the next corner.
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10. A friend is giving you a ride home. You want him to turn right at the next stoplight.
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Write an appropriate question or statement offering assistance for each of the following situations.
1. An eight-year-old boy has just fallen off his bicycle and scraped his knee.
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2. You are at a party with your small child who will not stop crying and wants to go home.
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3. Your best friend is having a party for one hundred people at her home.
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4. Your brother didn’t get a paycheck last month.
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5. One of your coworkers seems to be having a heart attack.
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6. Your neighbor is going on vacation for two weeks.
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7. You are a sales assistant at a shoe store. A customer is looking at several pairs of shoes.
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8. You are a customer service representative at a large company. A woman has just approached your desk.
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9. You and your wife discover that your car has been stolen.
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10. A couple of tourists look lost.
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Match the words and expressions in the first column with those in the second column that have a similar meaning. Note: There may be more than one match for each expression.
Circle the most appropriate response to each question or remark.
1. Hurry up! I don’t want to miss the train.
a. We’ll be back on track.
b. You’ll miss me.
c. We’ll go ahead and walk.
d. Go ahead without me.
2. Good news! The judge dismissed the lawsuit against you.
a. Don’t hesitate to call me.
b. That’s a load off my mind.
c. I’m on top of it.
d. I’m back on track.
3. You missed ten out of twenty questions on the exam.
a. Any chance you can help me?
b. Do you mind?
c. That’s a load off my mind.
d. I aced it.
4. Are you willing to work harder?
a. I’ll work instead.
b. By the way, don’t hesitate.
c. I’ll get back on track.
d. I’m not on top of it.
5. Do you mind if I call you?
a. That’s a load off my shoulders.
b. Go over there.
c. Of course not. Don’t hesitate.
d. Oh yeah?
Write an answer for each of the following questions. Ask an English-speaking friend to check your answers.
1. What do you do if you miss a bus, train, or airplane?
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2. Do you miss a person or place? What does it feel like?
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3. What do you do if you miss a question on a test?
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4. What do you do if you miss a class or a day of work?
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5. In what games can you miss the ball?
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Write a question or remark for each of the following answers. Ask an English-speaking friend to check your work.
1. ___________________________________________________
Go ahead. I don’t mind.
2. ___________________________________________________
Don’t hesitate to call me.
3. ___________________________________________________
That’s totally awesome.
4. ___________________________________________________
That’s a load off my shoulders.
5. ___________________________________________________
What can I do to help you?
6. ___________________________________________________
I’ll call the doctor.
7. ___________________________________________________
I’ll come over right away.
8. ___________________________________________________
Sure, I’ll go over it with you.
9. ___________________________________________________
Don’t miss this opportunity!
10. ___________________________________________________
The thing is, I’ve been really busy.
Write a conversation between two people in which both ask for and offer favors to each other. Use at least eight of the expressions explained in this chapter. Ask an English-speaking friend to check your work.
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