Strategies for Part II Questions & Responses

STRATEGY #5: Get familiar with requests, offers & invitations. Some yes/no questions have special functions. These functions include making requests, giving invitations, and making offers. A. Making requests A request involves asking someone to do something or asking someone to help. 1. Asking someone to do something for you "Can/Could you open the door for me, please?" Would/Will you come here a minute, please? "Would you mind opening the door for me, please?" 2. Asking if you can do something "Can/Could/May I use your computer, please?" "Do you mind if I turn up the heating?" "Would you mind if I turned up the heating?" Would it be OK/all right with you if I.? - A positive response to questions beginning Do you mind if ... ? or Would you mind if ... ? may begin with the word No, No problem, Of course not, or Not at all. For example, the response "No, go ahead" means "Yes, you may turn on the radio." - Would you mind doing something = asking someone to do something; Do/Would you mind if I do/did = asking if you can do something. - May I have sth, please? is actually a request for sb to do sth when it is said by sb in a more important position (ex. a customer) to sb in a less important position (ex. a waiter). Positive responses usually begin with Sure, Certainly, Yes, of course... or Ill be glad to. They may also be followed with something related to the request. For example: + Could you lend me some money, please? Sure. How much do you need? + May I borrow twenty dollars? Yes, if you promise to pay me back tomorrow. Negative responses usually involve the phrase Im afraid (I cant) or Sorry (I cant), and may be followed by an excuse or reason. For example: Could you help me move this box? I can't, I'm afraid - I have a sore back.

B. Making invitations An invitation is a suggestion that someone go somewhere or do something with the person asking the question. Would you like to join us for a game of tennis? Will you be able to/Can you come over tonight? Do you want to come skiing with us this weekend? Do you fancy coming to the cinema tonight? "Would you be interested in coming to the cinema with me tonight?" "How do you fancy going out for a meal at the weekend?" Common positive responses to an invitation: "I'd love to, thanks." "That's very kind of you, thanks." "That sounds lovely, thanks." "What a great idea, thanks." Common negative responses to an invitation (they are often followed by an excuse or reason.): "That's very kind of you, but actually I'm doing something else on Saturday." "Well, I'd love to, but I'm already going out to the cinema." "I'm really sorry, but I've got something else on." "I really don't think I can I'm supposed to be doing something else." Im afraid not; Ill be busy all next week. C. Making offers An offer is a proposal to help someone. Is there anything I can do for you? "Can/Could I help you?" "Shall/Should/May I open the window for you?" "Would you like another coffee?" "Would you like me to answer the phone?" "I'll do the photocopying, if you like." Common positive responses to an offer: "Yes please. That would be very kind of you/ that would be lovely/ I'd love one." "Thank you/Thanks. That would be great." "If you wouldn't mind." Or, "If you could." Common negative responses to an offer (they may be followed by an excuse or reason.) "No thanks." Or, "No thank you." "It's OK, I can do it." Or, "Don't worry, I'll do it. I just want to look around, thank you.

Exercise 1: Listen to 16 sentences. Choose the language function below that suits the sentence you hear.

Exercise 2: Identifying suggestions, invitations, offers, and requests and responses to them 1. The man is ______ (A) declining an offer. ______ (B) making a suggestion. 2. The woman is ______ (A) accepting an invitation. ______ (B) making an offer. 3. The woman is ______ (A) declining an offer. ______ (B) making a suggestion. 4. Mark is ______ (A) rejecting a request ______ (B) agreeing to a request. 5. The woman is ______ (A) giving an invitation. ______ (B) making a suggestion. 6. The man is ______ (A) agreeing to a request. ______ (B) turning down an offer. 7. Ed is probably going to ______ (A) receive a suggestion. ______ (B) make an offer. 8. The woman is ______ (A) suggesting a solution. ______ (B) offering help. 9. Cynthia is ______ (A) giving an invitation. ______ (B) accepting an offer. 10. The woman is ______ (A) declining an offer. ______ (B) making a request. 11. The man will probably ______ (A) do what the woman suggests. ______ (B) turn down the womans invitation. 12. Bob is ______ (A) agreeing to an offer. ______ (B) refusing a request. 13. The man is ______ (A) making a suggestion. ______ (B) accepting an invitation.

Exercises 3

Exercises 4

Exercises 5