1. Skills
  2. Speaking
  3. B1 speaking
  4. Asking a favour

Asking a favour

In this video, Noelia asks Paul for some help. Listen to the language Noelia uses to ask a favour and practise saying the useful phrases.

Do the preparation exercise first. Then watch the video and do the exercises to check your understanding and practise the language.

Preparation

Speaking B1: Asking a favour – preparation

Transcript

Ana: Hi! I'm Ana. Welcome to What to Say!

Do you know what to say when you want to ask a favour? Listen out for useful language for asking a favour. Then, we'll practise saying the new phrases – after this.

 

Noelia: Paul, have you got a minute? I need a favour.

Paul: I'm a bit busy, but sure, what can I help you with?

Noelia: So, you know the branding job for Active Arctic?

Paul: Of course. It was so good to finally finish that project. It went on and on and on … 

Noelia: Yeah, so … look, I'm really sorry about this, but they want some more changes made.

Paul: Seriously? I've already rewritten that copy, I don't know, like, 20 times?

Noelia: I know. I'm so sorry. Would you be able to work on it this afternoon?

Paul: Well, I'm not really sure if I can, Noelia. I'm finishing the Moosh Monkey social media campaign and they're expecting it by the end of the day.

Noelia: I'd forgotten about that. Is there any chance you could work late tonight?

Paul: Sorry, Noelia. I would if I could, but I can't.

Noelia: Please?

Paul: I'm taking my niece to the cinema for her birthday. It's been planned for ages.

Noelia: OK. Well, then could you come in early tomorrow? I'll make it up to you!

Paul: OK. How?

Noelia: Name your price.

Paul: An extra day's holiday?

Noelia: Can you get in for 5 a.m.?

Paul: 7 a.m.

Noelia: 6 a.m.

Paul: Deal.

Noelia: Deal.

 

Ana: Hello again! Looks like that's an early start for Paul tomorrow, then! So, did you notice the useful phrases used for asking a favour? Listen to me and then repeat. 

 

Have you got a minute?

I need a favour.

What can I help you with?

I'm really sorry about this, but they want some changes. 

Would you be able to work this afternoon?

I'm not really sure if I can.

Is there any chance you could work late?

I would if I could, but I can't.

 

Ana: Try and use some of these phrases the next time you want to ask a favour in English. Bye for now!

Task 1

Speaking B1: Asking a favour – 1

Task 2

Speaking B1: Asking a favour – 2

Task 3

Speaking B1: Asking a favour – 3

Discussion

When was the last time you did someone a favour?

Download
Worksheet125.52 KB

Language level

B1 Intermediate
Average: 4.4 (66 votes)
Profile picture for user Rafaela1

Submitted by Rafaela1 on Tue, 30/03/2021 - 13:19

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Well..... Maybe every day. ;)

Submitted by MikhailZatopliaev on Mon, 29/03/2021 - 23:48

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I don't remember when I did, though I remember when someone did. It was yesterday, I was at cafe, and terminal for pay is broken, and I had't cash. I call to my friend, and ask a favour. I said "Hi Vova, can you help me, I have problem, plz send money to that number, I will send you back in 1 minutes."
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Submitted by sajjad ghassemi on Mon, 15/03/2021 - 11:18

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I did a favour to my friend and it was about leaning English because he was a beginner student at English

Submitted by Nalim24 on Thu, 11/03/2021 - 10:15

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I often do a favour, for example when I help my father with his work, or when I cut the grass of my grandma

Submitted by PARIMALA MADIAZHAKAN on Tue, 09/03/2021 - 03:26

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Yes, last time I had a favor with my friends. I ask my friends to take participate the competition held by me. They also took participate the competition held by me.

Submitted by Ari on Mon, 08/03/2021 - 16:16

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In fact, I do favors very often, I don't even notice it. For example, helping classmates with homework. Perhaps a lot of people think this is something bad or wrong on my part, and maybe they are right. But I like helping people. Actually, I don’t give them my notebook and I don’t say: "Take and copy it!" I try to explain it to them in an accessible way, although many people condemn it for it.

Submitted by Abrarhussain on Wed, 03/03/2021 - 00:14

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The last time I did a favour for my friend, was in January 2021. As we both wanted to purchase a new model television, we could save on delivery charges if we ordered them together. I did him a favour by ordering them from Amazon account to save us both money.
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Submitted by George Galliera on Tue, 02/03/2021 - 14:03

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I'd forgotten about that. lol

Submitted by Saad786 on Sun, 28/02/2021 - 13:15

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I gave a favour to my friend last time. He was making the model of Taj Mahal and I made it earlier 2 months . He was feelings difficulty in setting up the pillars of Taj Mahal so, I helped him.