How to make offers in English

“Making an offer” means saying that you will do something for somebody. So, for instance, when you make an offer for a car, you are saying

I’m interested in buying your car, if you are interested in selling it.

Making offers is a very common element of English language used in our day-to-day dealings with people. So, this is a very important chunk for the learners of English to know.

We’ll look at it under the following heads:

• • 1. How to make offers in English
    2. How to accept offers in English
    3. How to reject offers in English
    4. How to make counter offers in English
    5. A sample conversation in English

How to make offers in English

We use several expressions or chunks as we call them. Some of them are:

• • • Would you like something to drink?
    • Would you like me to show you some more options?
    • Would you like to see some more options?

Difference between Would you like to and Would you like me to

Would you like to is very unfriendly and snobbish. In English, it has the implication of:

“Hey, I don’t care about you. But I’m magnanimous.”

But Would you like me to has a personal touch. It says,

“Hey, I care about you, so, please let me help you.”

Some formal chunks are:

• • • Can I get you some coffee?
    • Can I help you with something?
    • Can I offer you a seat?
    • May I offer you something more luxurious?
    • May I show you some more options?
    • May I bring you some coffee?

Difference between Can and May

This is like Would you like to and Would you like me to.

Can I offer you some coffee means you wish to help them if they like to be helped. It’s up to them – you are just trying your best. So, it’s very distant, far removed. You simply walk away if they say no.

May I offer you some coffee, on the other hand, means you are personally interested in the person and want to help them. So, it’s more up close and personal – more polite, affable, and caring. So, it’s more appreciated.

Another chunk is Shall I/we…

• • • Shall I get you some coffee?
    • Shall we offer them a presentation skills training free of charge.
    • Shall we announce our new wedding collection?
    • Shall I inform Mother we’re reaching in 5 minutes?

Shall I is sort of neutral. Nobody would really take offence if you used “Shall I“. Also, Shall we implies that the speaker is involved in the action proposed or offered.

Say, if you are making some suggestions on a business or work point. You can use chunks like:

• • • How about offering a 12% discount?
    • What does a 12% discount look like?

How to accept an offer in English

Another important element is showing that you’re willing to accept an offer made by another. Some useful chunks are:

• • • That would be very kind of you.
    • Thank you. That would be great.
    • Yes please, thanks.
    • Yes please. That would be lovely.
    • Oh yes, please. That would be nice.
    • That’s very thoughtful of you.
    • That’s very perceptive of you.
    • Thanks, I’m extremely touched
    • If you don’t mind.
    • If you could.

Some practical examples:

• • • Would you like me to get you some medicines for your headache?
    • Thanks! That would be very kind of you.

• • • May I get you a cup of coffee?
    • Thank you. That would be great.

• • • You look sick. Shall I call the doctor?
    • Thank you. That’s very thoughtful of you.

• • • Shall I polish your shoes for you?
    • If you don’t mind, thanks!

Rejecting an offer

Also important is your ability to reject an offer – of saying NO. Some useful chunks are:

• • • No, thanks.
    • No, thank you.
    • It’s alright. I can do it myself.
    • That’s okay, but thanks all the same.
    • Don’t worry, I’ll do it myself.
    • Thanks for the offer, but I’m fine.
    • Thanks for the offer, but I’ll pass.

Note: Thanks but no thanks is a very rude expression. I’d never use it.

Some practical examples:

• • • Would you like to come with me?
    • Thanks! But I’ll pass.

• • • Can I get you a cup of coffee?
    • Thanks, but I’m fine. 

• • • You look sick. Shall I call the doctor?
    • Don’t worry, I’ll do it myself. Thanks all the same!

• • Making a counter offer in English

This is yet another element an English learner must know, and use properly and effectively. Some chunks for making such counter-offers are:

• • • How about…?
    • What about…?
    • I was thinking along the lines of…
    • I was thinking about…
    • I’d say look at…

Some practical examples could be:

• • • Offer: Would you like to go to Goa for the weekend?
    • Counter: Goa? Okay, what about Munnar?

• • • Offer: Shall we go to a movie tonight?
    • Counter: Well, I was thinking along the lines of movie and dinner.

• • • Offer: Would you like me to call you a cab?
    • Counter: That’s great, but how about coming with me to the meeting?

A Sample Conversation

Look at a sample conversation making, accepting, and rejecting offers in English:

• • • Would you like something to drink?
    • Coffee would be fine. Thanks!
    • Have some more cake.
    • No thanks. It was mouth-watering though!
    • Can I get you some ice?
    • Well, some cold water would be fine, too!
    • Would you like a cigarette?
    • Thanks, but I don’t smoke.