I (think I) can manage all right, thank you.

Illustrative Examples

1. – I’ll open the door for you.

-Thank you.

2. -Shall I meet you at the station?

-If you’re sure it's not too much trouble.

-No, no trouble at all,

3. -Let me carry your suitcase

-That’s very kind of you. Thank you.

3. -I'll show you the way.

-Oh, please don't bother. I know how to get there now.

5. -Let me drive you home.

-No, that's all right, thank you. I'll go on the bus.

6. –Ill type the translation for you if you like.

-Thank you, but there's really no need. I can easily ask the secretary to do it.

- Would you like me to come and help you to get the room ready?

-No, thank you. I can manage.

2. Practice Section

Exercise 1. Offer:

- to help a fellow-student with his translation;

- to do some shopping for your mother;

- to make the arrangements for a meeting;

- to carry your aunt a heavy bag;

- to give a neighbour a lift to the station;

- to help your friend when you come to her flat for a party;

- to make a cup of coffee for your friend;

- to look after your nephews for the evening;

- to show a tourist the way to the opera-house in your town;

- to mend your little brother’s broken toy;

- to do the washing-up (at home);

- to order a taxi for your guests;

- to buy tickets for a play which you and your friend have been discussing;

- to help your younger brother with maths;

- to bandage a friend's cut finger;

- to post a letter which your sister has just written; - to put some flowers in water (they have been brought by a guest).

Exercise 2. Reply to the following offers of help, (a) accepting, (b) refusing politely.

1. Let me hold your bag.

2. .Shall I make you a cup of tea?

3.Would you like me to come a bit earlier to help?

4. Let me give you a hand with those books (= help

you to carry or move them)

5. Is there anything I can do to help?

6. I'll fetch you a clean towel.

7. Shall I pay for the tickets now?

5. Let me drive you home. You look tired.

9. Would you like me to get you an aspirin and a glass of water?

10. I'll go and find out the time of the next train.

11. Can I help? (You are trying to make yourself under­stood to an English shop assistant)

12. Let me fetch you a chair.

When offering someone such things as food and drink, the following expressions are used:

Would you like…? - the most widely-used form

Will you have ...? - formal

Would you care for… ? - very formal

Have ... -if one is actually holding something out

Do have ... - more emphatic, persuasive

(Please) help yourself (to …) - used when the food, for example, is on the table but one is not going to hand it-round. “Help yourself” (without "to") refers to everything on the table ; “help yourself to" - to something specific. -

e.g. Help yourself to potatoes.

The clearest and most usual replies to the interrog­ative forms are:

Yes, please. / No, thank you. - with rising intonation and no pause between the words.

Other possible replies are:

(Yes,) that would be very nice/ lovely.

Please. - pronounced with a fall-rise.

Thank you. – as one takes something, especially in reply to “(Do)have …” or “Help yourself (to…)”. In other situations “Thank you” alone is ambiguous and should be avoided.

Thank you, but ... - a refusal followed by an explanation

e.g. - Would you like a cup of tea?

-Thank you, but I've just had one.

'

When offering someone something for which he has asked, one may say:

Here you are/ it is/ they are.

Here’s /are the ...

Here’s /are the ...you asked me for/ wanted

Be careful NOT to use “please” in this situation. The usual reply is “Thank you”.