Title: ASKING FOR HELP
Course: Let´s Read & Write

Asking for Help

Help! I need somebody Help! Not just anybody.

Everyone needs help from time to time and most people are willing to give it in a time of need. Most of the time of course the help needed is for something minor. But sometimes the help may be a matter of life or death. The expressions below are generally used for minor assistance. For any thing really, really major- the need for help is usually readily apparent and would not require someone to ask- such as in a fire or a serious car accident. Look at these expressions that can be used for asking for minor assistance.

English Expressions

Expression | Response
To offer help |
Would you like some help? | Yes, that would be great.
Can I give you a hand? | Thanks, much obliged
Do you need a hand? | No thanks, I've got it.
May I offer my assistance? | That would be so kind, thank you.
To ask for help |
Could you give me a hand? | Certainly.
Would you mind helping me out? | Not at all.
Could you help me please? | My pleasure

Expression | Response
When asking for advice | When giving advice
What do you think I should do? That’s a good idea. | Why don’t you (.... take a taxi instead, it's faster.)
What would you do in my shoes? Maybe you’re right. | Have you thought about (.... getting some medicine at the pharmacy)?/font>
Do you have any ideas about what to do? Thanks for the advice. | I think you should ( .... see a doctor).
What would you suggest? That might work. I hadn’t thought of that. | Have you considered ( .... the local markets? Sometimes they have great deals).
Can you think of anything that might help? Thanks, I'll try that. | One option may be to (.... call you embassy).

English Dialogue

Students should work together in pairs and read the following dialogue, one student reading one part, the other student reading the other. Note the expressions used in the dialogue and the progression of the conversation.

Barry: Could you give me a hand this weekend?

Larry: Doing what?

Barry: Landscaping my yard.

Larry: That sounds like a big job.

Barry: It might be, it depends on how I decide to do it.

Larry: You don’t know yet?

Barry: I can’t make up my mind. I’m vacillating between desert landscape with cacti or lush green grass with lots

of flowers. What do you think it should be?

Larry: Well, a desert landscape has a lot less maintenance, but nothing beats a nice green lawn.

Barry: Thus my dilemma. What would you do?

Larry: Let me ask you this- how much time will you spend out there.

Barry: With my schedule, probably not much.

Larry: Then I would go with the desert. Keeping up a grass lawn is a lot of work.

Barry: Yea, I think you're right.