Offering Help | Asking for a Favor / Help | Responses |
---|---|---|
Can I ... + Verb 1? Let me ... + Verb 1. What can I do for you? Can I help you? Let me help you. Let me give you a lift. Can I do something for you? Do you want something to ...? Shall I get you to ...? | Can/could/will/would you ... + Verb 1? Would you mind ... verb-ing? Can you help me? Can you hold this rabbit? Would you mind helping me with my homework? | Accepting Sure. Certainly. Of course. With pleasure. Refusing No, thanks. I can do it myself. I’m sorry. I can’t .... |
Learn how to make polite requests using "Can you", "Could you", "Will you", "Would you", and imperative sentences HERE
Dialogue 1
Vera: Hey, Ary. You look busy. What are you doing?
Ary: Well, I want to separate my hamsters. They fight all the time.
Vera: How can I help you?
Ary: Well, please hold this hamster. I’ll take the other one out. He’s very naughty.
Vera: Are you sure it won't bite me?
Ary: Don't worry. It's quite tame. The other one isn't.
Vera: Wow. It's so cute.
Ary: Alright. It’s done. Thanks for the help.
Vera: My pleasure. I think they’re very hungry. What do you give them?
Ary: I give them carrots, cabbages and many other kinds of vegetable. By the way, where are you going?
Vera: Well, actually I’m here because I need your help.
Ary: What is it? I’ll be happy to help.
Vera: It’s the mathematics assignment from Mr. Gatot. I think it’s rather complicated.
Ary: Alright. Let's go in. I hope I can help you.
"Would you mind ..." is different from "Would you like ...?"
Find out the difference HERE
Find out the difference HERE
Dialogue 2
Romi: Would you mind helping me, Edo?
Edo: I'd be glad to, Romi. What do you want me to do?
Romi: Help me hang up this picture. Hold it straight while I put in the nail.
Edo: I'd be glad to.
Romi: Hand me the hammer. Give me one of those nails, too, please.
Edo: Here you are.
Romi: There. How does it look? Tell me if I have it straight.
Edo: Yes, it's straight, but it's upside down.
Exercise
- Answer these questions by referring to Dialogue 1
- Where does the dialogue probably take place?
- What does Ary want to do?
- What does Ary want Vera to do?
- What does Vera want Ary to do?
- Can Ary help her?
- What will probably happen after the dialogue?
- Answer these questions by referring to Dialogue 2
- Where does the dialogue probably take place?
- What is Romi doing?
- What does Romi want Edo to do?
- What happens in the end?
- What will they probably do after the dialogue?
- Change the following to questions used when we ask for someone's favor.
- I want you to get the broken printer repaired.
- I want you to turn the lights off.
- I want you to submit the proposal tomorrow morning.
- I want you to get the reports ready.
- I want you to help me lift this box.