Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts by Richard Spears Read Free Book Online

Street.
    Could I have a word with you? Go to I’d like (to have) a word with you.
    Could I have someone call you? a question asked by a telephone answerer when the person the caller is seeking is not available. (The
someone
can be a person’s name or a pronoun, or even the word
someone
. Also used with
can
or
may
in place of
could
.)
T OM : Bill’s not here now. Could I have him call you? B ILL : Yeah. Ask him to leave a message on my machine. T OM : Sure
.
“Could I have her call you?” asked Mrs. Wilson’s secretary.
    Could I have the bill? Go to Check, please.
    Could I have the check? Go to Check, please.
    Could I help you? Could I assist you? (Said by shopkeepers, clerks, food service workers, and telephone answerers. Also used with
can
or
may
in place of
could
.)
The clerk came over and said, “Could I help you?
”
C LERK : May I help you? M ARY : No, thanks. I’m just looking.
    Could I join you? AND (Do you) care if I join you?; (Do you) mind if I join you? Will you permit me to sit with you? (An inquiry seeking permission to sit at someone’s table or join someone else in some activity. Also used with
can
or
may
in place of
could
.)
Tom came into the café and saw Fred and Sally sitting in a booth by the window. Coming up to them, Tom said, “Could I join you?
”
“Do you mind if I join you?” asked the lady. “There are no other seats.
”
    Could I leave a message? the phrase used on the telephone to request that a message be written down for a person who is not available to come to the telephone. (Also with
can
or
may
.)
B ILL : Can I talk to Fred? M ARY : He’s not here. B ILL : Could I leave a message? M ARY : Sure. What is it?
“May I leave a message?” asked Mary politely.
    Could I see you again? Could we go out on another date sometime? (Also with
can
or
may
.)
T OM : I had a wonderful time, Mary. Can I see you again? M ARY : Call me tomorrow, Tom. Good night
.
“Could I see you again?” muttered Tom, dizzy with the magic of her kiss.
    Could I see you in my office? I want to talk to you in the privacy of my office. (Typically said by the boss to an employee. Also used with
can
or
may
in place of
could
.)
“Mr. Franklin,” said Bill’s boss sort of sternly, “could I see you in my office for a minute? We need to talk about something.
”
S UE : Could I see you in my office? J OHN : Sure. What’s cooking?
    Could I speak to someone ? AND Can I speak to someone ?; May I speak to someone ? the phrase used to request to talk to a particular person, usually on the telephone. (The
someone
stands for a person’s name. Also used with
talk
in place of
speak
.)
T OM (answering the phone): Good morning, Acme Air Products. With whom do you wish to speak? B ILL : Can I speak to Mr. Wilson? T OM : One moment
.
S ALLY : May I speak to the manager, please? C LERK : Certainly, madam. I’m the manager.
    Could I take a message? the phrase used on the telephone to offer to take a message and give it to the person the caller is seeking. (Also with
can
or
may
.)
B ILL : Can I talk to Fred? M ARY : He’s not here. Could I take a message?
“May I take a message?” asked Mary politely.
    Could I take your order (now)? an expression used by food service personnel to determine if the customer is ready to order food. (Also with
can
or
may
.)
W AITER : May I take your order now? M ARY : Of course. Jane, what are you going to have? J ANE : I’m having what you’re having. M ARY : Oh. W AITER : I’ll be back in a minute
.
M ARY : This is a nice place. B ILL : Yes, it is. W AITER : Can I take your order? M ARY : Yes, we’re ready.
    Could I tell someone who’s calling? a question asked by telephone answerers to find out politely who is asking for someone. (
Someone
is replaced by a person’s name or by a pronoun. Also used with
can
or
may
in place of
could
.)
M ARY (on the phone): Hello. Could I