Practice
English practice: everyday requests and offers
Sign in to saveAt a shop, a bus stop, or a friend's home, short polite phrases make everyday conversations easier. You might ask for help, offer a drink, or accept something kindly.
Make and respond to simple polite requests and offers by choosing a suitable phrase for the situation.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
Could you open the window, please? /kʊd juː ˈəʊpən ðə ˈwɪndə, pliːz/
The short answer
For a request, say Can you...? or Could you...?. To offer your help, say Can I...? or Shall I...?. For a familiar offer of food, drink, or a place to sit, use Do you want...? and listen for the reply.
Could you open the window, please?
Why it works: Could you is a polite way to ask another person for help.
5 more examples
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Can you help me with this bag, please?
The speaker asks another person to help with a bag.
Not this:
Can I help youwith that bag? What changes: Here the speaker offers help instead of asking for it. -
Could you tell me where the station is?
Could you is a useful polite pattern when you ask for information.
Not this:
Do you knowwhere the station is? What changes: This also asks for information, but it does not directly ask the listener to explain. -
Do you want some tea?
Do you want introduces a friendly offer of a drink or another thing.
Not this:
Do you want tosit here? What changes: Add to plus a verb when you offer an action or invitation to someone you know. -
Shall I call a taxi for you?
Shall I is a common offer to do something for another person.
Not this:
Shall we calla taxi? What changes: Shall we suggests an action that both speakers may take. -
Yes, please. That would be great.
This reply accepts an offer in a friendly, polite way.
Not this:
No, thank you. I'm fine. What changes: This reply refuses an offer without sounding rude.
Read the full guide
First decide whether you need help or want to give help. If you need something, make a request. If you want to help another person, make an offer. Then choose a phrase that matches who will do the action.
Know whether you need a request or an offer
A request asks someone else to act. An offer says that you are ready to help or give something. The person who will do the action changes the phrase you choose.
Can you hold the door for me, please?
The listener will hold the door, so this is a request.
Can I hold the door for you?
The speaker will hold the door, so this is an offer.
Ask with can you or could you
Can you...? is common for friendly everyday requests. Could you...? is often a little more careful. Both phrases are followed by the base form of the verb: Can you wait, Could you write, Could you show.
Can you wait here for a minute?
Wait stays in its base form after can you.
Could you write your name here, please?
Could you makes a simple instruction sound like a polite request.
Offer an action with can I or shall I
Use Can I...? when you offer to do something yourself. Shall I...? is another useful offer, especially when you see a practical way to help. Both are followed by a base verb.
Can I carry those books for you?
The speaker offers to carry the books.
Shall I turn on the light?
The speaker asks before doing a helpful action.
You see that someone cannot reach a shelf. Which offer can you make?
You can say: Can I get that for you?
Offer things and invitations in friendly situations
In a friendly situation, Do you want...? can offer food, a drink, or a choice. Use Do you want plus a noun for a thing. Use Do you want to plus a verb for an action or invitation.
Do you want a glass of water?
A glass of water is the thing offered.
Do you want to join us for lunch?
To join introduces the offered invitation.
Give a clear polite reply
After an offer, say yes, please when you accept. Say no, thank you when you refuse. After a request, you can agree with Sure, Of course, or No problem. If you cannot help, give a brief polite reason when it is useful.
Do you want some coffee? Yes, please.
Yes, please accepts the offer.
Can you meet me at six? Sorry, I can't. I finish work at seven.
The reply refuses the request politely and gives a useful reason.
Before you go
Remember this
Ask for help with Can you...? or Could you...?. Offer your own help with Can I...? or Shall I...?. In a familiar situation, offer a thing or invitation with Do you want...?. Answer clearly so the other person knows whether you accept or refuse.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "English practice: everyday requests and offers"
What is the difference between a request and an offer?
A request asks another person to do something, while an offer says that you are willing to do something or give something. Compare Could you close the door? with Can I close the door for you? The first asks for help and the second gives help.
Can you help me with this bag, please?
When should I use could you instead of can you?
Both phrases ask another person to act. Could you often sounds more careful, so it is useful with strangers, customers, or colleagues. Can you is normal with friends and in many everyday situations. Use the base verb after either phrase.
Can I help you with that bag?
How do I offer food or a drink to a friend?
Use Would you like followed by the thing you offer, such as Do you want some tea? You can also offer an activity with Would you like to plus a verb, such as Do you want to sit here? The listener can answer Yes, please or No, thank you.
Could you tell me where the station is?
Can I use shall I in everyday English?
Yes. Shall I is a useful way to offer a small action that you can do now, such as Shall I call a taxi for you? It is followed by the base form of a verb. It asks whether the other person wants your help.
Do you know where the station is?
How can I refuse an offer politely?
Say No, thank you, then add a short reason if it helps the conversation. For example, you might say No, thank you. I have one already. This answer is clear and friendly, even when you do not want the offer.
Do you want some tea?