REVIEW: HELP AND OFFER

Objectives
 Understanding the social function and the text structure in making expression of help and
offer within school and family setting.
 Understanding the spoken text of those expressions, catching the context of the situation
and having the ability to express it into written text.

Learn about it!

In the previous topic we have discussed about help and offer within school and family setting.
We have learnt about the text structure and also the variation of the casual and polite expression.
In this topic we will review them. Moreover we will have it packed on written and spoken form.

What is help?

It is a condition when someone needs somebody else to do good deeds for him/ her. When we do
good thing for someone it means we help him. When someone wants us to do something for
him/her it means he/she is asking for help.

What is offer?

It is a change to do good deeds to people. When we ask someone whether he/she needs our help
or not it means we are offering help. When we do something useful to others it means we are
giving help.

In help and offer the important notes to differentiate between casual expression and polite
expression is the use of the Modals. We have to always remember that Casual Modals are May,
Will, and Can. While Polite Modals use Would, and Could. Moreover, if we want to give more
polite expression we can add “please” in our expression. It can be placed after Subject or at the
end of the sentence.

Asking for help

Modal + YOU + V1 + Object?

Note: The subject is always you because we assume that we talk directly to person whom we ask
for giving help.

e.g.:

 Could you wash the dishes? (Polite)

  Can you wash the dishes? (Casual)
 Would you please tell me your name? (Polite)
 Will you tell me your name? (Casual)

Would + YOU + mind to + V1 (the help)?

Note: This expression is always polite

e.g.:

 Would you mind to bring/ bringing me the map?

 Would you mind to buy/ buying some snacks?
 Would you mind to give/ giving me the file?
 Would you mind to clean/ cleaning the board?

Offering/ giving help

Modal + SUBJECT + V1 + OBJECT?

Note:
Most of the subject will be I and sometimes We since we are the agent who offer/give a help.
Using 'may' seems casual but in verbal communication it can be polite depends on the context of
the conversation.

e.g.:

 Could we help you? (Polite)

 Can I help you? (Casual)
 May I bring your bag Sir? (Polite)
 May I have this? (Casual)

Do you understand?
Let's practice

Question 1

Your Mom is now shopping at the supermarket. Your grandma told you to text your Mom to buy
some coconut cookies for her.

The correct message for your Mom is ....

A. Mom, would you please to buy some coconut cookies for me?
B. Mom, would you buy grandma and some coconut cookies?
C. Mom, could you buy me some coconut cookies for grandma?
D. Mom, would you buy her some coconut cookies from grandma please?
E. Mom, could you buy some coconut cookies for grandma please?

Discussion:
The correct answer is E.
Option A and C are incorrect because the cookies is for grandma not you (refers to me)
Option B is incorrect because Mom isn’t buying grandma but coconut cookies
Option D is incorrect because the cookies are for grandma not from grandma.

Question 2

Give respond to the following situations you will hear!

The best offer can give to that situation is ....

A. You can buy the new one

B. You can borrow me yours
C. Would you like to use mine?
D. Would you use the other one?
E. Could I order it for you?

Discussion:
The most appropriate respond is by giving him a help. Option C is correct.