Making an

Offer of Help or
Service and the
Responses

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Daftar Isi
Daftar Isi
 Making an Offer of Help or Service
Read and practice the following dialog.

Donna : Donny, you are still busy with your computer. Don’t
you feel tired?
Donny : I am, but I must finish my report tonight.
Donna : Why didn’t you do it yesterday so that you wouldn’t
have had to type until late tonight?
Donny : You know, I am busy with my activities at OSIS these
days.
Donna : I see, but you look very tired. What can I do to help
you?
Donny : Nothing, thanks. I’ll cope by myself.
Donna : O.K. What if I make a cup of coffee or tea for you?
Donny : Yes. A cup of coffee, please.
Donna : Anyway, would you like sugar and cream in your
coffee?
Donny : Yes. Thanks.
Donna : O.K. You’re welcome.
 Answer the following questions based on the
previous dialog.

1. What is the dialog about?

2. What tense is used in the text?
3. What is the function of the sentences in bold?
4. What modal is used in those sentences?
5. What verb follows the modal in the sentence?
The following are expressions of making an offer of help
or service and the responses.

Making an Offer of Responding

Help/Service
• May I help you?
• What can I do for you?
• What if I help you carry
the bag?
• Can I help you solve the
exercise?
• May I check your
computer?
Accepting
• Yes, please.
• Certainly. Thank you.
• No, I don’t mind at all.
Declining
• No, thanks. I can manage it
myself.
• That would be nice, but I can
handle it myself. Thanks.
 “May …?”, “What can …?”, “What if …?”
Patterns:
- May + subject + verb base + object/complement + ?
- What + can + subject + verb base + object/complement + ?
- What + if + subject + verb present + object/complement + ?

Examples:
1. May I help you lift the tables, please?
2. What can we do to make you happy?
3. What if we arrange the books in your room, Sir?

Note:
In the examples above, the words “May ...?”, “What
can ...?” and “What if ...?” are used to offer help/service.
Complete the following dialogs with suitable expressions.
Use “May …?”, “What can …?” or “What if …?”
1. Brandon : Why do you look confused?
Sania : It’s raining, but I don’t have a raincoat.
Brandon : What
I always bring a raincoat in ifmy
you use mine?
bag.
__________________
Sania : Don’t you use it yourself?
Brandon : I will go home by bus. I don’t think I need it. Here,
please take it.
Sania : O.K. Thank you so much.What can I do for you?
Brandon : You are welcome.
2. Kenan : It seems that you are very busy, Mom.
___________________
Mrs. Vina : Please babysit your little sister. Let me finish my
cooking first. It’s already time for dinner.
Kenan : All right, Mom.
Mrs. Vina : Thanks, dear.
May I try to
Kenan : solveDon’tit? mention it.
3. Dian : You look in trouble.
Roy : This math puzzle is very difficult.
Dian : _________________
Create dialogs based on the pictures.
Then, practice the dialogs.

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