Expressions of Offering, Accepting and Refusing Politely

Offering, Accepting and Refusing Politely

Learn It

Would you like ...?

"Would you like something" is a more polite form of "Do you want something".

How to offer a cup of coffee to someone else:

	Offering
Formal	Would you like a cup of coffee?
Informal	Do you want a cup of coffee?
Very informal	Coffee?

Yes/No

How to accept or decline a cup of coffee:

	Accepting	Refusing
Formal	Yes, please.	No, thank you.
Informal	Yes, I'd like some.	No, thanks.
Very informal	I'd love one.	No.

How do you take it?

Saying how you would like your coffee...

	Black with sugar, please.
	White, no sugar, please.
	White with sugar, please.
	Black, no sugar, please.
	A little milk, but no sugar, please.

  

Now let's see how Mr Bean does it... 

Mr Bean is in the staff room at school. He is making a cup of coffee. Miss Smith comes in ... 

Mr Bean:	Hello, Miss Smith. Would you like a cup of coffee? I'm just making some.
Miss Smith:	Oh, yes please, that would be lovely.
Mr Bean:	How do you take it?
Miss Smith:	With milk and sugar please.
Mr Bean makes the coffee
Mr Bean:	Here you are.
Miss Smith:	Thank you.
Their colleague Mr Martin comes in
Miss Smith:	Good morning Mr Martin, coffee?
Mr Martin:	Oh, great! Yes please, I'd love one.
Mr Bean:	Milk and sugar?
Mr Martin:	A little milk, but no sugar, please.