Every English learner needs to know how to ask for something in English. There are a number of ways to do this. If you know someone has something, you can ask for it with a polite question. If you don’t know, it’s possible to ask for something with a yes or no question. Be careful not to use the direct expressions. In other words, don’t say “Give me that”, but ask kindly as the following examples, “Do you have a pen I could borrow?” “Is there any wine?” “Did you buy any bread?”

If you know or see someone has something, ask a polite question with “could”, “may” or “might”. It’s also possible to use “can” in some special situations. In the past, “can” was not used when people asked for something, but meant ability. In the UK, people mainly use “Can you lend me…?” or “Can I have…?” In the US, this is still considered to be wrong and “May I have…?” is preferred.

It’s common to use “Could you lend/hand/give…?” You can also use: “May/Can I borrow…?” “Could/Can you lend me…?” “May I have…?” “Could you hand/give me…?” Do not begin a sentence with “please”, but you can add “please” at the end of the sentence to be polite.

【小题1】What can we ask if we know someone has something?

A．A direct question.	B．A no question.
C．A yes question.	D．A polite question.

【小题2】What can Lucy say politely if she wants some coffee?

A．Pass me some coffee.

B．Is there any coffee?

C．Give me some coffee.

D．Take some coffee to me.

【小题3】What didn’t people say when they wanted something politely in the past?

A．Can I use your dictionary?

B．Could you lend me your bike?

C．May I try your computer now?

D．Might I take your car today?

【小题4】Which of the following is a correct polite expression according to the passage?

A．Do you give me any milk, please?

B．Please could you lend me your ruler?

C．May I have some tea, please?

D．Please could you hand me a knife?

【小题5】What’s the main idea of the passage?

A．How to express or ask politely.

B．What to do when we are polite.

C．How to describe our ideas.

D．What to do with our language problems.