TESOL/Asking for help
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Key sentences
| Asking for help | Giving or denying help |
|---|---|
| If (verb) may I ask a favor? | Sure, what is it? Mhm? |
| Asking for help | Giving or denying help |
|---|---|
| Could you help me (verb) ? Can you help me (verb) ? |
Hmm, let me see. Well... |
| Giving or denying help | Asking for help |
|---|---|
| What do you need my help for? Why do you need it? |
It's just that (reason). |
| Asking for help | Giving or denying help |
|---|---|
| I'd really (verb phrase). It would really help me out. |
Sure, (verb). Actually, (excuse). |
Drills
Say these sentences without looking.
| verb | sentence |
|---|---|
| you're not too busy | If you're not too busy may I ask a favor? |
| it's ok | If it's ok may I ask a favor? |
| you don't mind | If you don't mind may I ask a favor? |
| it's possible | If it's possible may I ask a favor? |
| verb | sentence |
|---|---|
| do my homework | Could you help me do my homework ? |
| carry this suitcase | Could you help me carry this suitcase ? |
| find my keys | Could you help me find my keys ? |
| set the table | Could you help me set the table ? |
| reason | sentence |
|---|---|
| I can't understand my homework | It's just that I can't understand my homework. |
| It's too heavy | It's just that It's too heavy. |
| I can't find them | It's just that I can't find them. |
| I'm very tired | It's just that I'm very tired. |
| verb phrase | sentence |
|---|---|
| appreciate it | I'd really appreciate it. |
| be glad if you did | I'd really be glad if you did. |
| like that | I'd really like that. |
| appreciate that | I'd really appreciate that. |
| verb | sentence |
|---|---|
| I wouldn't mind | Sure, I wouldn't mind. |
| that's ok | Sure, that's ok. |
| no problem | Sure, no problem. |
| that's fine | Sure, that's fine. |
Example
Practice this conversation.
| Asking for help | Giving or denying help |
|---|---|
| If (you're not too busy) may I ask a favor? | Sure, what is it? |
| Asking for help | Giving or denying help |
|---|---|
| Could you help me (do my homework) ? | Hmm, let me see. |
| Giving or denying help | Asking for help |
|---|---|
| What do you need my help for? | It's just that (I can't understand my homework). |
| Asking for help | Giving or denying help |
|---|---|
| I'd really (appreciate it). | Sure, (I wouldn't mind). |
Change partners. Use your imagination and change the sentences.
Exercise
Use your imagination. Make your own conversation.
| Asking for help | Giving or denying help |
|---|---|
|
If ... may I ask a favor? |
Sure, what is it? |
| Asking for help | Giving or denying help |
|---|---|
| Could you help me ... ? | Hmm, let me see. |
| Giving or denying help | Asking for help |
|---|---|
| What do you need my help for? | It's just that .... |
| Asking for help | Giving or denying help |
|---|---|
| I'd really .... | Sure, .... |
Change partners. Use your imagination and make another conversation.
Practice
| Asking for help | Giving or denying help |
|---|---|
| Ask your partner for help. | Ask why and agree to help or deny help. |
Further study
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Resource type: this resource is a lesson in English as a second language. |
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