Café requests and choosing
At a café, a short request is natural: . Although is normally uncountable, means a serving or cup. names a countable portion.
Use to join things and for a choice: , Add when asking and after receiving something.
is a useful polite request. Learn as a whole phrase now; use the whole phrase for a courteous request. It means what you want, while states a general preference.
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Ask for coffee rather than tea. | ||
| Ask for coffee rather than tea. | ||
| Offer a choice between the two drinks. | ||
| Offer a choice between the two drinks. | ||
| Ask for both coffee and cake. | ||
| Ask for both coffee and cake. | ||
| Make a polite request for coffee. | ||
| Make a polite request for coffee. | ||
| Ask for one portion of cake. | ||
| Ask for one portion of cake. | ||
| Thank the person who helped you. | ||
| Thank the person who helped you. | ||
A coffee, please.Ask for coffee rather than tea.
Coffee or tea?Offer a choice between the two drinks.
Coffee and cake, please.Ask for both coffee and cake.
I’d like a coffee.Make a polite request for coffee.
A piece of cake, please.Ask for one portion of cake.
Thank you!Thank the person who helped you.
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the patterns
Tap the form described in this unit.
, .
Ask for coffee rather than tea.
?
Offer a choice between the two drinks.
, .
Ask for both coffee and cake.
.
Make a polite request for coffee.
, .
Ask for one portion of cake.
!
Thank the person who helped you.
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form
Choose the right word for the gap.
A , please.
Ask for coffee rather than tea.
Coffee tea?
Offer a choice between the two drinks.
Coffee cake, please.
Ask for both coffee and cake.
a coffee.
Make a polite request for coffee.
A piece cake, please.
Ask for one portion of cake.
Thank !
Thank the person who helped you.
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Complete a short message
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
A , please.
Ask for coffee rather than tea.
Coffee tea?
Offer a choice between the two drinks.
Coffee cake, please.
Ask for both coffee and cake.
a coffee.
Make a polite request for coffee.
A piece cake, please.
Ask for one portion of cake.
Thank !
Thank the person who helped you.
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build useful sentences
Put the words in order.
Ask for coffee rather than tea.
Offer a choice between the two drinks.
Ask for both coffee and cake.
Make a polite request for coffee.
Ask for one portion of cake.
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
Ask for coffee rather than tea.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the English pattern explained in the unit.
Ask for coffee rather than tea.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the English pattern explained in the unit.
Offer a choice between the two drinks.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the English pattern explained in the unit.
Offer a choice between the two drinks.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the English pattern explained in the unit.
Ask for both coffee and cake.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the English pattern explained in the unit.
Ask for both coffee and cake.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the English pattern explained in the unit.
Make a polite request for coffee.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the English pattern explained in the unit.
Make a polite request for coffee.
You say:
Choose the form that fits this meaning and the English pattern explained in the unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
