Offering Something

Upon completion of this lesson, students will be able to:

➡️ Clarify language used for making offers in the context of their use.

➡️ Practice of language used for making offers in the context of their use.

➡️ Review of offer words in the context of their use.

Lead-in 

Read the following passage and answer the questions that follow

A mother who was forced to stand while breastfeeding on a crowded train, has urged people to show "common courtesy". But often it's not selfishness that stops us from making a kind gesture, it's a fear of the consequences.

We've all been on a crowded bus, a rush-hour train carriage with people packed like sardines -when someone gets on and looks around for a seat.

Maybe you haven't noticed them -headphones clamped to your ears, attention gripped by a podcast. Or perhaps your eyes are fixed to your phone, your head absorbed in a mind-numbing game.

Maybe you haven't noticed. Or just maybe, you've pretended not to notice. That, says mother Kate Hitchens, was the reason she was forced to stand on a busy train while breastfeeding her baby .

1. If you were in that train, what would you do to baby's mother?
2. Analyse the message given by the writer

Clarification: Offering Something

If you want to offer something or to do something for another person in order to be polite and helpful, you can use the following phrases and expressiond and some ways of accepting or refusing an offer:

Would you like…? is the most usual way of offering something to someone, or inviting them to do something.

Would you like a magazine to read while you're waiting?

Thanks very much, that would be great.

Do you want…? is a more informal way of offering something to someone:

Do you want another coffee?

No, thanks. I must be going.

Would you care for…? is a very formal way of asking someone if they would like something:

Would you care for dessert, madam?

Thank you, I'll have the apple pie.

(Do you) fancy…? (British) and How about…? are informal ways of asking someone if they would like something:

Fancy an ice cream?

No, thanks, I'm on a diet.

How about a cold drink then?

OK, I'll have a diet cola.

Who wants…? is used when offering something to a group of people.

Who wants another glass of wine?

I'd love one.

Can I get you…? is used especially when offering someone food or drink:

Can I get you anything?

I'm fine, thanks.

What will you have? and What can I get you? are used when asking someone what they would like, especially in a restaurant, bar or café:

It's my turn to get the drinks. What will you have?

An orange juice, please.

I couldn't and Not for me, thanks are both ways of politely refusing food or drink that someone has offered you. Not for me, thanks is more informal:

Would you like another piece of cake?

I couldn't. It was delicious though.

Do you want salad with your pizza?

Not for me, thanks.

Practice: Offering something in the context of its use

Review: Offering something