Page 29 - Time_To_Talk_-_Pre-Intermediate

In this lesson: Refuse requests politely

Function: Polite requests and refusals

1 2 3

4 5 6

Reading

2 Work with a partner. Look at the pictures.
Match each picture with a sentence in Column A and a sentence in Column B.

Column A Column B
Lend me some money. 2 Can you show me how to use this?

Show me how to use this. Do you think you could lend me some money? 2

Lend me your dictionary. Could you give me a glass of red, please?

Tell me the way to the village. Could you not park your car here, please?

Give me a glass of red. Can you lend me your dictionary?

Don’t park your car here. Would you mind telling me the way to the village?

3 Read the requests in activity 2 again, then underline A (Column A) or B (Column B) to answer the questions below.
a In which column do the requests use modal verbs (can/could/would)? ...... A / B

b In which column are the requests in Yes / No question form? ...................... A / B
c In which column are the requests more polite? ........................................... A / B

4 a Write numbers to match the polite refusals with the requests in activity 2.

1 I’m afraid we don’t have any left. Would you like white? 1
2 I would, but I don’t have any.
3 I’d usually say yes, but I’m using it right now.
4 I’m sorry, but I don’t live around here.

5 I’d like to, but I don’t know this programme.
6 I’m sorry, but our car is broken down.

b Underline the refusals in activity 4a that we usually use only with people we are friendly with.
esson 7
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