How to Make Requests in English Basic English Phrases
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back anyway to our weekly live stream my
name is Alisha and today we’re going to
talk about how to make offers and
requests how to make offers and requests
so I mentioned in our previous live
stream I mentioned it on Twitter that
some of the key grammar points we might
use today will be can and may and will
also maybe talk a little bit about some
and any so if you have questions about
those grammar points you can check them
there are videos on the YouTube channel
so you can review those grammar points
after the lesson today if you like oh
okay so while we wait for everyone to
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YouTube thanks for coming
alrighty um with that then yes today’s
topic is how to make offers and requests
so we’re going to kind of look at three
different groups for today’s lesson
three different categories first I’m
going to talk about making requests that
will be number one do we’ll talk about
making offers and three the third part
of today’s lesson will be responding and
maybe making compromises - so I saw some
of your comments from the last few live
streams so I’m going to try to write
pretty clearly on the board today sorry
I know my writing isn’t always super
clear okay but let’s begin with today’s
topic if chats difficult over there I
can pull it up here no worries control
desk I can see chat on my phone no
problem we got it we got it so YouTube
can be there and I can check chat over
here okay so let’s begin first part and
first part for today’s lesson will be
making requests so I’m going to put
requests on this side of the board over
here so first topic for today requests
requests so requests just to review a
request when you want someone to do
something or when you need something you
can make a request a request so let’s
begin with a very casual very simple
request form which is oh I’ve just lost
it can I go back down to thank you okay
so first one will just be can i okay
can I so this is when you want maybe
permission to do something or maybe you
want to receive something depends a
little bit on the request so here you
can see this is for I when you yourself
want something can I have some cake can
I go to the
Supermarket with you for example can I
you can replace the I in this with the
person you are asking on behalf of so
for example if you’re asking for like a
friend like can my friend join today’s
lesson or can my parents come to the
party you can change this part of the
request to reflect the person that you
are asking on behalf of can I do
something okay
so can I though oh you’re going to check
the Instagram okay cool so can I if you
want to ask for an item so you can use
some when you’re making requests for an
item so when you’re using like a noun
phrase can I have some cake was my
example sentence can I have some extra
time for example hi welcome
so can I have some blah blah blah this
is when you want to receive an item not
when you are asking permission to do
something so can i okay so this is sort
of the basic introduction to today’s
today’s topic but I want to move on to
the second part many of you have
questions about this actually can I
versus may I what’s the difference
actually in in everyday modern English
there’s really not a difference between
can I and may i we use them in the same
way however may I does sound more polite
and if you want to be like correct
historically may I is arguably more
correct in terms of asking permission
for things so if you’re the kind of
person that wants to be really really
correct all the time is really strict
you should use may I when you make
requests like in school for example may
I use the bathroom or may I borrow your
pen in modern American English this
probably sounds a little too formal in
many cases when we’re speaking with our
friends when speaking with friends we
just use can I
like can I come and fix the Instagram
for example you can’t see it but our
producers behind the screen right now
is it good no all right so can i and may
i are both used to make requests may i
is going to sound more formal than can i
can i okay so as i said may i borrow my
pen or borrow your pen
yeah nice examples in YouTube chat may I
use this desktop computer good oh yeah
what what on yeah in YouTube says may I
help you yeah may I is used in like
service situations may I help you a nice
example coozes may I get your number
that’s funny okay good so nice examples
of this
all right so may I sounds more polite
than can I in most cases good good good
good
all right to lots of people watching hi
youtube my facebook ok let’s continue on
then to another another one let’s go on
to this simple pattern will you will you
so this is the beginning to a question
when you would like someone else to do
something for you so can i and may i
these are asking like there’s something
I want there’s something I want to do
there’s something I want to receive when
you’re using will you will you will you
do something for me will you give me
your pen will you give me some time will
you hang out with me later for example
so this is when you want someone else to
do something for you so here you can see
we’re focusing on the other person in
this question will you will you yeah
someone on facebook says will you marry
me perfect example you’re focusing on
the other person will you marry me
that’s exactly it good lots of that will
you open the door please yeah lots of
good examples on Facebook and YouTube
chat definitely check the chat for some
good example sentences will you give me
a hint
perfect perfect good nice ones ok so
will you sorry will you is used when you
want to focus your requests on the other
person the other
will you good excellent okay and then
this is I gave some examples and your
examples will you marry me for example
those are using a verb you can however
as we talked about before use some to
request to request an item so will you
give me some of something again will you
give me some time for example when
you’re speaking with a boss maybe will
you give me some so why do I point this
out sometimes students use any instead
of some we cannot use any in these
examples we’ll use any when you’re
asking like an information question but
we do not use any when we’re making
requests and when we’re making offers
please use some can I have some will you
give me some may I have some please use
something in these cases will you give
me a break good will you give me some
money nice will you give me your hands
uh-oh that expression will you give me a
hand use the singular will you give me a
hand this is a casual way to ask for
help give me a hand will you give me a
hand
thanks money good good examples good
examples guys will you do me a favor
will you cook for me ah good one ok
let’s go on to the next example for
requests then please is it ok the next
one I’m running out of space I want ok
I’m going to include I want here just
because some people do use it but I
don’t really recommend using I want to
make requests I don’t recommend this
because it sounds rather direct and it
sounds impolite as well if you go to a
restaurant for example you say I want
this I want that you sound very direct
like you’re demanding this thing I want
something you can use it with friends
like I want to go to the movies later or
I want to go hiking this weekend but
when you’re speaking with someone you
don’t know or you’re in a service
situation I want can sound a little too
direct so I don’t really recommend it
yeah so but you will some people will
use this I don’t consider this very
polite for requests Instagram is up yeah
all right so our producer just fixed our
Instagram feed hi Instagram if you’re
just joining on Instagram we have an
Instagram channel which is what English
class 101 101
Oh 101 calm okay thank you
I’ll see you back in the box
good bye alright so I want is probably
not so good to use but you will hear
native speakers using this okay let’s go
to the last one that I hear a lot of
questions about from you guys and from
other students can you and could you so
many of you asked this question what’s
the difference between can you and could
you can you and could you so this one
it’s like can you and could you we use
them both to make requests here I used
can I at the beginning but when you want
to focus again you want someone else to
do something for you can you could you
do this thing for me both of these are
fine for making requests could you just
sounds more formal could just are you
can sing could you sounds more formal it
sounds more polite so this one is better
to use if you want to sound extra extra
formal extra play I’m gonna move because
I’m in the way Hangouts again okay could
you is gonna sound more formal than can
you okay
nice good examples to could is more
polite yes can you help me good can you
help me can’t you shut up that’s not a
very nice request person oh my gosh
could you give me a hand yes perfect
could you give me a hand in the singular
yes that is correct someone said could
you is more polite yeah can you give me
your real name yeah perfect very nice
could you pass me some bread ah another
good point then maybe that goes along
with
some and any that I briefly talked about
before some is used with with countable
nouns and with uncountable nouns but
when you use an uncountable noun like
bread you don’t need to use the article
so someone said could you pass me a
bread close could you pass me some bread
to pass me some bread or a slice of
bread so actually there are countable
and uncountable noun videos up on the
YouTube channel go check those out for
sure all right whew that was a lot let’s
take a quick break then nice thanks for
sending your great example sentences
yeah yeah we’re busy in here today so
let’s take a break as always we have PDF
stuff for you guys free stuff so today
we have as always Oh are they gonna see
that no maybe I don’t know okay I’ll do
this now um so I was thinking of what
might be good to introduce for this
grammar point when you’re making
requests I was thinking it’s good to use
these patterns when you are eating at
restaurants so this is the free dining
vocabulary and dining question cheat
sheet pdf this is free you can get this
from English class 101.com the link is
below the video on YouTube and above the
video on Facebook so this actually
includes a few like food-related
vocabulary words and questions for sure
but you can use these requests as well
with these like can I have some water
may I have some water could you bring me
a beer for example so I thought this was
a nice one to use here yes I know I’m
sorry you can’t see this but you can
download it like right now actually for
free so check this out I think you’re
gonna see the all of them that you can
get yeah they’re there so that’s
everything that you can find from the
links below the video on YouTube and
above the video on Facebook so please go
download these they are free hmm yeah
actually lots of people do check them
yeah so we’re pretty we’re pretty
excited every lesson
and more and more people check them out
and we’re adding new ones also so
definitely have a look at those
okey-dokey artichokey let’s go along
shall we or no
see we have more time okay good if
you’re just joining yeah today’s topic
is how to make requests how to make
requests
I’m very large today or very small I
don’t know okay anyway let’s get going
if you’re just joining please don’t
forget to like the video and maybe share
the video as well always appreciated but
let’s continue on to the second part of
today’s lesson then so I felt small okay
so let’s continue on to the second part
of today’s lesson which is offer so the
first part if you missed it the first
part of today’s lesson was making
requests the second part is going to be
making offers so let’s move on to the
other side of the board making offers
all right so again we’re going to use
this some grammar point that we talked
about in the first part of today’s
lesson so let’s begin offers to make an
offer do you want okay so maybe a basic
a basic offer do you want do you want
this is probably most useful when you
want to offer an object when you want to
offer an item do you want some cake do
you want something to drink for example
do you want so you’re offering someone
an item an object of some kind do you
want so you can use some with this if
you’re offering a noun like I just said
do you want some cake for example do you
want some beer do you want some pizza
for example so but you can use you can
use a verb here do you want to watch a
movie do you want to go for a drive do
you want to take a nap for example you
can use a verb with this as well yes
producer does want to take a nap so you
can use a verb with this with this
grammar pattern how I
when you are making an offer
specifically offering something to
someone do you want some of that thing
maybe do you want a as well if you’re
offering the singular good do you want
some water a nice example do you want a
beer perfect good do you want to get
some water perfect nice ones guys it’s
good do you want to hang out sometime
very nice okay good hey Junior
yes it is live for real Anderson okay
good so let’s go on then to the even
more casual version of this offer which
is just wanna wanna so we’re using want
to but we’re dropping do and you
we’re just saying wanna and then we
follow this with a verb phrase want to
go to the beach wanna take a break want
to get lunch so extremely short
extremely casual we typically use this
for actions actually so you can use this
with get and a noun my example just now
like I said wanna I’ll erase this for
example I said want to get lunch we’ll
use this with like meal times quite
often want to get lunch you want to get
dinner do you want to get breakfast you
can use that too all of the above yeah
so you can use get with this before a
meal or a drink to want to get a drink
perfect perfect very natural what a
monster this is our producer good she
likes energy drinks good okay so these
are quite casual expressions you can use
do you wanna and wanna those are great
but let’s move along to some more formal
examples you will hear these in service
situations and you might use them in
business situations let’s take a look
okay first one I think most of you know
this would you like and then I’ll
include it here would you like some of
something so in a service situation like
if you visit a restaurant for example
would you like some water would you like
some appetizers for example would you
like a simple and formal expression a
polite expression you
used in service situations so you can
use this in business as I said in
business meetings when meeting a client
for example would you like an same thing
with this do you want or wanna you can
use this for verbs as well like would
you like to see a movie with me for
example would you like to get a drink as
well you can use this to just sounds
more formal than do you wanna so this is
great for polite to situations okay
let’s look at one more let’s look at one
more quite formal typically used in just
in-service situations can I offer you
can I offer you some so here we’re using
the word offer in the offer so like
common in a service situation like I
said can I offer you some snacks
I don’t know snacks are quite informal
but can I offer you some tea for example
something it’s like maybe quite polite
something you would imagine in a very
polite or a very formal situation making
an offer there so you may hear this one
in I don’t know in meetings perhaps this
one would you like would you like is
perhaps more common I feel yeah some
relief from the strains of daily life
indeed good nice examples guys would you
like a cup of wine close for wine we use
glass as a counter instead of cup of
wine we use glass of wine nice examples
in the YouTube chat
would you like an umbrella ah yeah good
an umbrella so a singular remember when
you’re using the singular part the
singular form of the noun use a or an
when you’re using a countable now so
lots of grammar review for at this point
today good ones in on Facebook ah on
Facebook can I offer you my house oh my
goodness that’s quite an offer be
careful there other ones can I offer you
some beer yeah quite formal though quite
formal so just just remember that would
you like to help me that’s
that’s a very interesting request on
Facebook someone alia said would you
like to help me that’s kind of its it’s
correct
grammatically but it’s you’re asking for
someone to help you so instead of would
you like to help me which makes it sound
like you’re trying to persuade the other
person it’s like can you help me might
be a little more natural I think all
right good good good
let’s finish there for now nice example
of you guys would you like to drink
something with me perfect perfect very
good okay let’s take another break then
thanks very much for that so as I said
yeah there’s lots of free stuff
available on the website as always for
you guys free stuff
yeah free stuff yes travel I am I’m
going to share the next one the next one
I’m gonna share I was thinking this one
checking into a hotel would be good as
well as when you’re traveling so we can
use today’s today’s topic making
requests and offers along with like when
you’re traveling when you’re checking
into a hotel or when you’re staying at a
hotel so these are a sentences you can
use in a hotel here’s a perfect example
could you please call me a taxi could
you please call me a taxi so we’ve just
talked about this request pattern could
you could you so these are great
opportunities to use these requests and
offers so please check this out this is
one of many free PDFs at English class
101.com
please check the link below the video on
youtube and above the video on Facebook
Twitter twitch Instagram I think it’s on
the profile page on Instagram if you’re
watching there I can’t tell hi so please
check that out they are free all right
maybe yes okay so I think we’re gonna
see it again if you missed it before if
you’re watching on YouTube and Facebook
you will see it again if you’re watching
on Instagram there’s a bunch of PDFs
that you can see on the
the channel but if you can’t see on
Instagram because there’s no screen on
Instagram these are some examples we’re
looking at today checking into a hotel
and maybe eating it restaurants are
quite useful for this week’s lesson okay
so with that let’s go on to our last
topic for today so if you’re just
joining please don’t forget to like the
video of course share as well we really
appreciate it
but let’s go on to the last part of
today’s lesson I’m going to erase the
board don’t worry you can check the
video later so I want to talk about how
to answer natural responses for these
things okay so to respond to offers and
requests some on says Rachel you never
answer me my name is not Rachel maybe
that’s why okay so let’s talk about
positive responses positive responses
okay
positive responses and then we’ll talk
about negative responses too and then
we’ll talk about compromises okay let’s
look at positive responses to begin with
okay so for requests and offers let’s
just make a big list short is good short
is fine you don’t need to give a long
response to these things so sure it’s
great sure but this pronunciation sure
in American English sure sure
sounds good we’ll see that later of
course of course
so of course is like yes of course I’m
going to do that there’s no worries at
all
other casual ones yep yeah another great
example maybe you know this one sorry
you bet you bet oh you bet you bet quite
casual as well you bet it’s a good one
for offers if someone offers you
something you can say yes please like do
you want some cake
do you want something too
yes please yes please is a good offer
you cannot use this for a request so
this is only when you accept something
yes please it’s a polite way to accept
something another one for offers only
yes thank you yes thank you this is only
for offers again so when you accept
something yes thank you or yes thanks
it’s okay to another good one that’s
very casual is totally totally you can
use this for requests or offers yeah on
raaah gender says sure or definitely is
good as well nice fun Steph on YouTube
says certainly also certainly yes
certainly lets out of here certainly is
good that sounds more formal certainly
like can you do this for me certainly or
would you like we don’t really use
certainly for offers though so like
would you like some cake certainly it’s
like it’s more for a request we use this
more for requests that’s good and then
we saw great ones
sure thing says Oscar yeah sure or sure
thing quite casual and friendly nice
ones guys of course uh of course or of
course uh yeah yeah I know there’s not
much facing backward okay of course this
is of one F of course of course not off
course off course means you’re going off
of a path away from a path so don’t use
off course of course of course
absolutely nice one I’m but like three
of you said absolutely great absolutely
it means yes it’s like a very strong yes
yeah can you help me with this
absolutely okay let’s go on then to
negative responses negative responses
now please
so first negative response sorry I can’t
sorry I can’t so this is a rejection
expression like so this can be for
request that can you help me with this
sorry I can’t I have to work for example
or do you want some cake sorry I can’t I
have to leave for example you can use
this for both if you have to reject
something all right next one extremely
direct I don’t recommend this because
it’s just too direct and it might seem a
little rude it’s just no no
so like do you want some cake no it’s
quite direct you might hear kids use
this if kids if the kid is in a bad mood
for example but no no is quite direct
yeah what’s that a question to me so no
no it’s quite direct you can use it but
yeah oh yeah okay so a producer is
saying we could use not really like you
could use this for offers to reject an
offer like do you want some cake and not
really you could use that if you like so
that’s one okay another extremely direct
and casual one is nope nope nope nope
this one is used only with like close
friends and family members perhaps nope
nope yeah another good one from our
producer is uh-huh or not so there are
some how did you spell that just
basically any uh-uh-uh-uh any kind of
negative sound you can use that to
reject an offer so these are good for
offers offers okay good let’s finish
with two more negative responses then
yeah no thanks is another one from no.1
okay no thanks alright
I’m running out of time so I’m gonna
finish the last ones that I have so I
wish I could I wish I could this one is
for requests for offers I wish I could I
wish I could meaning I want to do that
thing but it’s not possible it’s not
possible I wish I could
I can’t and finally I have to work so
this is one example of an excuse you can
provide some reason why you cannot do
that thing I have to work I have to work
okay
finally last point if you want to
compromise like you want to do something
with the person but you just don’t have
time right now or there’s some reason
you can’t do that thing instead oh okay
that’s very handy thank you so instead
if you want to compromise try this I
can’t today I can’t today
present tense I’m sorry present tense I
can’t today how about tomorrow instead
how about Sunday instead how about this
weekend instead so one thing that I’ve
noticed when like my students are
practicing making offers or inviting
people or whatever if if the plan is not
possible on that day they quit it’s like
you can compromise so use this
expression to make a compromise so I
can’t today how about tomorrow or I
can’t meet at 5:00 how about 8:00
instead yeah oh good point what is a
compromise so a compromise is working
together to find the solution working
together to solve a problem you’re
changing the situation changing the
conditions in some way so if I say do
you want to watch a movie tonight I
can’t today
how about tomorrow that’s a compromise
you’re changing the conditions of the
situation so this is a great expression
for making plans so if someone offers a
plan you can use this I can’t today how
about the 30th of February that’s not a
day that’s not very nice okay anyway we
have to finish there because I’m late as
always I have talked too much so let’s
finish there great but thank you so much
for sending all of your great example
sentences fantastic and thank you for
your questions too if you missed it oh
if you missed it
I’ll sit over here where should I go
okay so if you missed it all of this is
on a video yeah I’m okay this is on a
video so you can check this on the
channel or you can check this on the
Facebook page yeah I’ve got a I’m almost
falling down in every episode man but
next week we’ll be back again with a new
lesson next week we are going to talk
about how to make travel plans now I
should be over here we’re gonna talk
about how to make travel plans now so
this will be next week May 16th this
will be Wednesday 10:00 p.m. Eastern
Standard Time Eastern Standard Time is
New York City time if you don’t know
that time in your local time google it
you can find it on google please check
it out
next week how to make travel plans very
exciting so we’ll probably actually this
might be good to review checking in at a
hotel so please go download this free
pdf when this lesson finishes excellent
so we’ll finish there thank you so much
for joining us on Facebook on YouTube on
Twitter on Instagram where everywhere
now so we’ll finish there for today um
thanks for sending all your questions if
you have other questions you can send
them in the chat or send them to me on
ask Alicia and I’ll try to take care of
them so we’ll finish there thank you so
much for liking and sharing the video
thank you for sending your questions and
comments and we will see you again next
week have a good day have a good night
I’ll see you again soon bye bye
you