Today’s lesson focuses on how to ask for a favour in English and we’ll look at some language for describing common favours.
Read the conversation below
- Are the people speaking good friends, colleagues or strangers? How do you know? (The style of language changes a lot depending on who is speaking)
- What is the favour in this conversation?
- Does the other person agree to the favour? Is he happy about it?
Look at conversation again
What do you think the phrases in bold mean? Try to work out the meaning from the context.
Look at the list of favours below
- Have you ever asked somebody for one of these favours?
- Has anyone asked you to do one of these favours for him/her?
- Which vocabulary is useful for you? Write it down in your notebook.
Practise the conversation
Find a family member or flatmate to practise the conversation with. When you can do it without looking, swap roles or change the favour!
(If you don’t have anybody to practise with, try recording yourself on your mobile phone to hear your pronunciation)
Question for you….
Did you practise the conversation? Which was your favourite phrase for discussing favours? Let me know in the comments below! 👇😊
Oh and if you want to refuse a favour, try this vocabulary for saying no politely!
12 Responses
Thank you for the useful vocabulary! I’m going to try to use this in my life… I like ‘you twisted my arm’
Yes, that’s a great phrase! Thanks for your feedback Marie. That’s great to hear 🙂
Hi Nicki, I hope you’re going to enjoy playing in the snow and building a snowman with your little boy. Even if it’s cool today, it’s such a beautyfull landscape to see. Have a nice day.
Ah thank you Francis! Unfortunately not enough snow settled for a snowman but we still had fun in the garden ❄ You’re right, it’s chilly but beautiful!
I hope you enjoyed this week’s lesson 😊
Hi Nicki! The very useful lesson as usual.
My answers are:
Speaking people are friends.
The favour in this conversation is to give a lift to the airport. The other person agrees to do a favour but he isn’t very happy about it.
“Have you ever asked somebody for one of these favours?”
Yes, for more of them.
I’ve got a cat and flowers and I ask for help my neighbours every time when I go on holidays.
My favourite phrases are: look after my cat, not only feed her and water my plants.
Yep, you’re exactly right about the conversation Kalinka!
And I’m glad some of these ‘favour’ phrases were useful for you.
Thanks for sharing your answers with us 🧡
Really, Nicki, I’d never heard about this expression : “You couldn’t do…, could you ?”
I find it very interesting to use in the daily life. So, thank you.
Snow is coming too in France but not in our area…
Good luck ! Françoise
You’re very welcome Francoise, it’s a great one to use in daily conversation!
No snow here anymore either, back to rain! 😁
Hi Nicki
Thanks for your lesson. We always learn useful phrases.
Eric
My pleasure Eric! I’m glad it was useful for you 😊
Thank you. You’ve been giving so much every single day for so many years!!!!
Ah, thank you so much Juan, that’s lovely to hear 🙂