How to tell people what you want, in English
One of the most important things to learn in any language is how to tell people what you really want, and what you don’t want.
But we don’t want to sound like babies, right?
We want to ask for things, and politely refuse, when you don’t want something.
So this post is all about showing you the right and wrong way to ask for things in a few different situations.
But first, a quick quiz.
What do you say when you don’t want to eat something?
A. I don’t really like that
B. I’m not in the mood for that
C. I can’t eat that
D. I’m not up for that
E. That doesn’t really agree with me
The answers: A, B, D, E are all fine
Just don’t say, “I can’t eat that”. That doesn’t make sense. You can eat anything, you just don’t want to.
Now let’s look at the key vocabulary:
| I want to have lunch |
| I feel like having lunch |
| I’m up for some lunch |
| I’m in the mood for some lunch |
These are all the same, except the bottom 2 are softer, so people usually use them for negatives.
For example, “Aaaahh, I’m not really up for lunch right now.”
Or, “Sorry, I’m not really in the mood for lunch right now.”
So if someone says, “Hey, do you want to go get some ice cream?”
You say, “Yeah, I’m up for that!”
Or, “Sorry, I’m not really up for that, right now. I’m watching my weight.”
So let’s look at a conversation from my new course, coming soon on Udemy:
B. Hi Mike.
A. Hi Julia! Listen, do you have anything going on this Friday night?
B. No, nothing much, why?
A. I was wondering if you might let me take you out for dinner..?
B. Yeah, I’d really like that.
A. So how about Italian. I know a really nice place.
B. I love Italian.
A. So what time would you like me to pick you up?
B. I get off work at 5, so any time after 6 is fine.
A. Then I’ll make reservations for 8 and I’ll swing by at 7. How’s that?
B. Sounds good. Looking forward to it!
A. Me too!
So answer these questions [out loud] to practice your new vocabulary:
#1. Where does Mike want to take Julia for dinner?
#2. Does she feel like going out with him?
#3. Does he want to take her out for coffee?
#4. Is she in the mood for Italian?
Alright, so let’s imagine they go out and have a great time… lots of laughs… lots of connecting….
Then Mike can ask, “Are you in the mood for a stroll?” Or “Are you up for a walk?”
And Julia can say either say ‘yes’, or she can say ‘no’…
…simply by saying, “Sorry, I’m not really in the mood for a stroll tonight…” Or, “Sorry, I’m not really up for that tonight…”
But hopefully she says, ‘yes’, right?
She says, “I’m up for that,” and they have a romantic stroll in the moonlight.
And there you go! That’s how you ask someone out, talk about where you want to go, and what you want to do, and say ‘yes’ and ‘no’ politely.
Until next week!