Making requests
Explain
Can + subject + present form verb + noun phrase + please?
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May + subject + present form verb + noun phrase + please?
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Subject + would + like + to + present form verb + noun phrase + please.
Can I see your ticket please?
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May I see your ticket please?
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I would like to see your ticket please?
Can I take your name please?
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May I take your name please?
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I would like to take your name please?
How to order in a restaurant, cafe, bar or pub
Explain
Can + subject + have + noun phrase + please?
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May + subject + have + noun phrase + please?
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Subject + would + like + noun phrase + please.
The first two sentences 'Can...' and 'May...' are direct questions (yes or not answers).
The third sentence is a statement about what you would like. It is an indirect request.
This builds on the lesson about 'countable' and 'uncountable' nouns and 'a' or 'the'.
Rule 1
Can I have a slice of chocolate cake please?
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May I have a slice of chocolate cake please?
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I would like a slice of chocolate cake please.
There is more than one but you want one = a
Rule 2
Can I have the slice of chocolate cake please?
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May I have the slice of chocolate cake please?
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I would like the slice of chocolate cake please.
There is one and you want one = the
Rule 3 - use a number or other determiner
Can I have two slices of chocolate cake please?
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May I have two slices of chocolate cake please?
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I would like two slices of chocolate cake please.
Can I have some water please?
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May I have some water please?
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I would like some water please.
Countable = There is more than one and you want more than one = number
Uncountable = Use a determiner to state the amount you want = a little / some / a lot
Rule 4 - use a countable form if you can
Can I have three glasses of red wine please?
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May I have three glasses of red wine please?
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I would like three glasses of red wine please.
Can I have a pint of beer please?
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May I have a pint of beer please?
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I would like a pint of beer please.
Can I have two cups of tea and a cup of coffee please?
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May I have two cups of tea and a cup of coffee please?
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I would like two cups of tea and a cup of coffee please.
Requesting food in a restaurant
When we request specific food we use 'the' or a number as the determiner.
Can I have the chocolate cake please?
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May I have the chocolate cake please?
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I would like the chocolate cake please.
Can I have the tomato soup please?
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May I have the tomato soup please?
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I would like the tomato soup please.
Can I have two fish and chips please?
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May I have two fish and chips please?
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I would like two fish and chips please.
Advanced explanation
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When you request specific food from the restaurant you use the determiner 'the'. This is food that the restaurant makes specifically for you and so there is only one of it. When you are requesting non-specific food , you use 'a'.
Examples
There are lots of Big Macs. If you want a Big Mac you would ask for 'a' Big Mac.
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Can I have a Big Mac please?
Ramen is a general, non-specific food. You would ask for 'a' bowl of ramen.
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Can I have a bowl of ramen please?
Here we have a restaurant's specific food. It's on the menu.
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Can I have the Tonkotsu Ramen please?
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I would like the Miso Ramen please.
'Can...' vs 'May...'
'May...' is more formal than 'Can...'.
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I would use 'May...' if the request was slightly unusual because I would want tot increase the formality of the request.
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'Can...' is the most natural and every day.
Practice
These are all specific and so we use 'the'.
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We will use the 'can I...' form.
Answer - ultimate fish and chips
Can I have the ultimate fish and chips please?
Answer - cod and chips
Can I have the cod and chips please?
Answer - veggie fish and chips
Can I have the veggie fish and chips please?
Answer - scampi and chips
Can I have the scampi and chips please?
Answer
Can I have the hunter's chicken please?
Answer
Can I have the sausage and mash please?
Answer
Can I have the lasagne please?
'with' or 'without'
Use 'with' to add something to the order.
Can I have the rump steak please?
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Can I have the rump steak with peppercorn sauce please?
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I would like the rump steak with caramelised onion and chorizo gravy.
Use 'without' to take something away from the order.
Can I have the macaroni cheese please?
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Can I have the macaroni cheese without the garlic ciabatta please?
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I would like the macaroni cheese without the house side salad.
A complete order
When ordering you do not need to say the whole food - just the first part.
Answer - have
Can I have the artichoke veloute, pan fried Skate and baked rice pudding please?
Answer - like
I would like the confit duck, pig cheek with mashed potato and baron bigod please.
Answer - have
Can I have the hake and sirloin steak with honey glazed carrots please?
Recommend
If you don't know what to have you can say:
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What do you recommend?
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Do you have a recommendation?
Here someone will tell you what they would eat.
Other uses of the grammar
Can + subject + have + noun phrase + please?
Can I have that pen please?
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Can I have those new books please?
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Can she have two blue jumpers please?
Subject + would + like + noun phrase + please.
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Subject + would + like + to + verb + please.
I would like that pen please.
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I would like to go to the cinema please.
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She would like to watch that new play.
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They would like to wear their new watches.
In the last two examples we dropped the 'please' to make the indirect request stronger.
What's the difference - 'Can' vs '...would like'
'Can' is a direct request. You will be told 'yes' or 'no'.
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A: Can I have that pen?
B: No, you can't. I am using it.
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A: Can I have that pen?
B: Yes, of course.
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'...would like' is a statement and indirect request (it's not a question).
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A: I would like to go to the park tomorrow.
B: Yes, we should do that.
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A: She would like to see that new play.
B: That's a a good idea.
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Links with other learning
Make your request stronger by changing the 'like' to 'love'.
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I would love the chocolate cake please.
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I would love to go to the cinema.
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She would love the steak with chips and a pint of beer.
Why are using determiners important?
Can I have paper please?
Can I have some paper please?
Can I have a sheet of paper please?
This amount of paper is not helpful. You must use a determiner.
Task
Write:
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write a conversation between you and a waiter / waitress at your favourite restaurant.
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