Requesting and Offering Help (Asking for and Giving Help - Refusing and Accepting)
Requesting & Offering Help
How to ask for and give assistance.
Offering Help (Asking to help)
Use these phrases when you see someone who needs help.
- "Can I help you?" (Very common, especially in shops)
- "Do you need any help?"
- "How can I help you?" (More formal/business)
- "Let me help you with that." (More direct)
- "Do you want me to carry that for you?" (Specific offer)
Requesting Help (Asking for help)
Use these phrases when you need assistance.
- "Can you help me, please?"
- "Could you help me for a second?" (More polite)
- "Could you give me a hand with this?" (Informal)
- "I need some help, please."
Accepting Help (Saying "Yes")
Use these phrases to accept an offer of help.
- "Yes, please. That would be great."
- "Thank you, that's very kind of you."
- "Yes, please, if you don't mind."
Refusing Help (Saying "No")
Use these phrases to politely refuse an offer.
- "No, thank you. I'm fine."
- "It's okay, thanks. I can manage."
- "No thanks, I'm just looking." (Use this in a shop)
Example Dialogues
See how these phrases are used in conversation.
| Situation | Dialogue |
|---|---|
| In a Shop (Offering/Refusing) |
Shop Assistant: "Can I help you?"Customer: " No, thank you. I'm just looking."
|
| Lifting a heavy box (Requesting/Accepting) |
A: "Ugh, this box is heavy. Could you give me a hand?"B: "Sure. I'll take that side." |
| At work (Offering/Accepting) |
A: "You look busy. Do you need any help?"B: " Yes, please. That would be great. Can you print this report?"
|
Test Your Knowledge!
Choose the correct word or phrase.
