Ordering politely: “Can I have…?”, not “Give me…”

The rule

To order, use Can I have…, please?, Could I get…? or I'd like…: Can I have a tea, please? I'd like the chicken. Give me… is a command, so it sounds rude to a waiter, even with please.

In Arabic, أعطني قهوة is a normal way to order in a café, so learners translate it as Give me a coffee. In English, a request in a café is a question, not a command.

Examples

In a conversation

A: Hi! What can I get you?

B: Can I have a latte, please?

A: Sure. Anything else?

B: I'd like a croissant too. Thank you!

Practice

Choose the best answer. The answers are at the end of the lesson.

1. ___ a cappuccino, please?
   • a) Give me
   • b) Can I have
   • c) I want
2. I'd ___ the soup, please.
   • a) like
   • b) want
   • c) liking
3. Could I ___ a glass of water, please?
   • a) give
   • b) getting
   • c) get

Tip

Add please at the end and say thank you when it arrives. To pay, ask Could we have the bill, please? If you know French, I'd like is je voudrais.

Answers

1. b) Can I have. Can I have…? is a polite request; Give me and I want sound rude.
2. a) like. I'd like is the polite way to say what you want.
3. c) get. Could I get…? means Can I have…?; give is the opposite.

• ← Day 8: How are you? Natural answers, and always ask back
• All 60 lessons
• Day 10: “Could you tell me where the station is?” Indirect questions →