Offers
When saying goodbye to the band, you may want to offer your support or assistance in their future endeavors. You can use modal verbs like "can," "could," or "would" to make offers.
| 🔊 | If you ever need a guitarist for your solo projects, I can play for you. |
| 🔊 | I could help you with songwriting if you're interested. |
When it comes to offers, it involves expressing willingness or extending invitations to provide help, support, or services to someone. In English, we often use modal verbs such as "can, could, would" and phrases like "I can, I could, I would" to make offers.
Rules for making offers:
- Use "can" to offer help or assistance:
| 🔊 | Can I help you carry those bags? |
| 🔊 | I can give you a ride to the airport if you need. |
- Use "could" to make a polite offer or suggestion:
| 🔊 | Could I lend you some money until payday? |
| 🔊 | I could help you with your homework if you'd like. |
- Use "would" to make a more formal or polite offer:
| 🔊 | Would you like me to help you with the project? |
| 🔊 | I would be happy to join you for dinner. |
- Use "shall" to make offers, suggestions, or seek opinions:
| 🔊 | Shall I help you with your bags? |
| 🔊 | Shall we go out for dinner tonight? |
| 🔊 | Shall I bring you a glass of water? |
When using "shall" in this context, it is usually followed by the pronoun "I" or "we" and the base form of the verb.
Making offers:
- Offering assistance or support:
| 🔊 | Can I help you with anything? |
| 🔊 | I can lend you my notes for the exam if you want. |
- Inviting someone or extending an invitation:
| 🔊 | Could I invite you to a concert next week? |
| 🔊 | I could take you out for dinner to celebrate. |
- Making suggestions or proposing a course of action:
| 🔊 | Would you like me to book the tickets for the trip? |
| 🔊 | I would be willing to organize the event if you need help. |
Remember to use appropriate expressions of politeness and consider the context when making offers. The specific language used may vary depending on the situation and the relationship between the speaker and the recipient of the offer.
Activity
Choose the appropriate response to the following offer: Offer: "Would you like some coffee?"
- a) No, thank you.
- b) Yes, I am.
- c) See you later.
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you want.
Choose the appropriate response to the following offer: "Can I help you with your bags?"
- a) Yes, I’m excited about it.
- b) That would be great! Thank you for offering.
- c) No, I’m tired.
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Choose the appropriate response to the following offer: "Shall I make dinner tonight?"
- a) No, not at all.
- b) I'm at home.
- c) That's so kind of you! Yes, please go ahead.
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Listen and answer the questions:
Who offers help?
- a) John.
- b) Mary.
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How does Mary respond to the offer?
- a) She declines the offer.
- b) She accepts the offer.
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After accepting the offer, what did Mary do?
- a) She said goodbye.
- b) She invited John to drink a coffee sometime.
.
Speaking
Practice your pronunciation, record yourself repeating the dialogue with a friend and compare your audio.
| John: Can I give you a hand with your bags? |
| Mary: That would be great, thank you! |
| John: It’s my pleasure! |
| Mary: Can I invite you to drink a coffee sometime? |
| Jhon: I would love it. |
| Mary: What about on Saturday? |
| Jhon: sure! See you then. |
