ASKING FOR INFORMATION

Sometimes you want to ask people for information. In English it is not very polite to start a conversation with a
direct question. For this reason we have a number of phrases.

Useful Expressions

People are usually polite when asking Direct questions:

information from a stranger:
 Could you tell me … ?  Is there a toilet nearby?
 Excuse me, do you happen to know … ?  Where can I get one of these?
 I wonder if you could tell me … ?  Could you tell me a bit more about
 Would you mind telling me … ?  What can I do for you?
 Would it be too much trouble to tell me …  Who is in charge of this place?
?  Why is the place closed today?
 I hope you don’t mind my asking, but I’d  How much is that T-shirt?
like to know …

Asking for more info: Responses:

 Sorry, could you give more details?
 Could you tell me a bit more about that?
 I don’t quite follow.
 I’m sorry, I don’t know.
 I’ve no idea I’m afraid.
 I’m sorry, I can’t help you there.
 Well … I’m not too sure … but ..
 Let me think for a moment.

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 Task 1 Study the chart below.

Simple questions Indirect questions

What time does it start? Can/Could you tell me what time it starts?
Can I sit here? Do you know… if I can sit here?
How much does it cost? Can/Could I ask you… how much it costs?
Is it open on weekends? Do you have any idea … if it’s open on weekends?

Task 2 Work with a partner, and role-play the situations below.

Situation 1: Friend A Situation 1: Friend B

You have just bought a new car but someone
accidentally scratched it. As you park your car at
your office, you see a colleague coming to you.
He/she asks questions about the car eg. price,
where you bought it from, etc. Respond to him
and ask him about the cheapest place to get the
scratch on your car fixed and repainted.
You are at a parking lot near your office. You see
a colleague who has just arrived in his/her new
car. Greet him/her and comment on the new car.
Ask her questions about the car eg. price, where
she bought it from, etc. Respond to /her when
she asks you about the cheapest place to get the
scratch on her car fixed and repainted.

Situation 2: Customer Situation 2: Salesman/Salesgirl

You are trying to find out different models of
cars. Ask the salesman questions about the cars
eg. prices, loan, colours, delivery date, etc. It
seems that none of them satisfies your needs.
You are a salesman /salesgirl selling different
models of cars. A customer comes to your
showroom asking questions about the cars. Keep
suggesting different models in order to get the
customer to buy one.

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