Shops, cafés and polite requests
Order and ask for things, with some, any, much and many. Lesson 12 of 58: Everyday English, CEFR A2.
Asking politely
- “I want a coffee” is grammatical but sounds blunt. Use “Can I have…?”, “Could I have…?” or “I’d like…”, and always “please”.
- Could I have a latte, please?
- I’d like the chicken, please.
- Can we have the bill, please? (British; American: the check)
Some, any, much, many
- “Some” in positive sentences and in offers and requests: “Would you like some water?” “Any” in negatives and most questions: “We don’t have any milk.” “Many” for things you count (many cars), “much” for things you don’t (much time), and “a lot of” for both.
- Would you like some tea? (An offer)
- Do you have any vegetarian dishes? (A question)
- There isn’t much time. (Uncountable)
- How many tickets do you need? (Countable)
In the café and the shop
- Staff ask: “Eat in or take away?” (British) or “For here or to go?” (American). “Anything else?” “That’ll be eight pounds fifty.” “Would you like a bag?”
- Eat in or take away? (To take away, please.)
- Anything else? (No, that’s everything, thanks.)
- Do you take cards? (Asking how to pay)
- Tip: Use “please” and “thank you” more than feels natural in your language: in English they carry a lot of politeness.
Lines to have ready
- Could I have …, please? (Ordering anything)
- Do you have this in a medium? (Asking for a size)
- How much is it? (Asking a price)
- Can I pay by card? (Paying)
- Excuse me, I think there’s a mistake on the bill. (Checking a bill politely)
- That’s all, thanks. (Finishing an order)
Your turn to speak
- Role-play a café: greet the server, order a drink and food for two people, ask one question about the menu, ask for the bill and pay.
- I used could I have, can I have or I’d like
- I said please and thank you
- I used some or any correctly
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