How to Make Offers in English

How to Make Offers in English

Hello dear English learners! Welcome to a new lesson. How to Make Offers in English

Being able to make polite, natural offers is an essential part of everyday English. Whether you’re helping a friend, speaking to a colleague, or being served in a café, you’ll hear and use these expressions all the time.

Today, we’ll look at the most common and useful ways to make, accept, and refuse offers in English. You’ll learn modal verbs, everyday phrases, short dialogues, and a few practical exercises to help you sound confident and polite.

Let’s get started!

Making offers with modal verbs

Modal verbs are one of the most polite and natural ways to make offers.

Can – informal, friendly

• Can I help you with your bags?
• Can I get you something to drink?

Could – more polite / indirect

• Could I offer you some tea?
• Could I carry that for you?

May – very formal

(Used in polite situations, customer service, or with strangers.)

• May I take your coat?
• May I assist you with anything else?

Shall – used only with I and we

• Shall I close the window?
• Shall we order a taxi?

Would you like me to…? – very polite and common

• Would you like me to print those documents for you?
• Would you like me to show you the way?

Making offers with “want”

This structure is informal and natural in everyday conversation.

Do you want…?

• Do you want a lift home?
• Do you want another biscuit?

Do you want me to…?

• Do you want me to look after the kids for a bit?
• Do you want me to check your report?

Making offers with “let” and “let’s”

Let me + verb

A polite way to offer help.

• Let me help you with that.
• Let me explain how it works.

Let’s + bare infinitive

Used for group offers or suggestions.

• Let’s sit down for a minute.
• Let’s take a break and grab a coffee.

Everyday expressions for making offers

Here are more natural and very common ways to offer something:

• Would you like…?

Would you like some water?

• How about…?

How about I make dinner tonight?

• Can I get you…? (very common in cafés/restaurants)

Can I get you anything else?

• I can… if you want.

I can pick you up from the station if you want.

• If you’d like, I can…

If you’d like, I can send you the file later.

Short dialogues (real-life situations)

Dialogue 1: At a café

Waiter: Can I get you something to drink?

Customer: Yes, please. Could I have a cappuccino?

Dialogue 2: At work

Anna: Shall I check the presentation slides?

Mark: That would be great, thank you.

Dialogue 3: With friends

Tom: Do you want me to drive you home?

Lisa: No, thanks. I’ll walk — it’s a lovely evening.

How to accept an offer politely

• Thanks a lot! I’d love to.
• That’s very kind of you.
• Yes, please. That would be lovely.
• Thank you — that would be great.
• I’d really appreciate that.

How to refuse an offer politely

• No, thank you.
• It’s very kind of you, but I’m fine.
• I appreciate your offer, but…
• Don’t worry, I can manage.
• Thanks, but maybe another time.

Mini practice exercises

A) Choose the correct option to complete the sentence.

1. ______ I help you with that box?
2. a) Shall b) Can c) Let’s
3. ______ you like me to check your essay?
4. a) Do b) Would c) Shall
5. It’s cold in here. ______ I close the window?
6. a) Shall b) Do c) Let’s
7. ______ you want another slice of cake?
8. a) Would b) Do c) May
9. If you’d like, ______ print the file for you.
10. a) I may b) I shall c) I can

Answer key: 1 b,  2 b,  3 a,  4 b,  5 c

B) Rewrite the sentences as polite offers.

1. I help you with the dishes.
2. I drive you to the airport.
3. I make you some tea.
4. I close the door.

Possible answers:

1. Shall I help you with the dishes?
2. Would you like me to drive you to the airport?
3. Can I make you some tea?
4. May I close the door?

Summary

Making offers is one of the most useful conversational skills in English.

You can use:

• modal verbs (can, could, may, shall, would)
• want / want me to
• let / let’s
• everyday expressions like Would you like…?, How about…?

Remember to match your level of politeness to the situation and use the accepting/refusing phrases to respond naturally. With a bit of practice, making polite offers will become second nature.

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