Short, easy questions in English

Hi, my name is Rebecca, and in today's lesson, you'll learn how to ask simple, easy questions

in English, just like native speakers do in normal, everyday conversation.

So, I think you'll like this technique, because actually, it uses less grammar than you would

use normally, and as you have been learning to use normally, okay?

So, let's take a look at the board to look at some of the scenarios in which you can

use this.

So, the way to ask easy questions is by using either the word "more" or the word "any" plus

some information, and I'm going to explain to you exactly in what context you can use

"what".

Let's take the scenario that you're in a restaurant, and you're having your meal, and the waiter

comes by to ask some questions.

Now, of course, he could ask you a long question, but he doesn't want to interrupt your meal

or your conversation, and he wants to still be very informal, and polite, and friendly.

So, what he can say is "more water", "more bread", "more coffee", okay?

You see, by simply asking the two-word question, instead of saying "Would you like more coffee?",

"Would you like some more bread?"

He could say all that, but then he would be interrupting your conversation or your meal

quite a bit, okay?

So, he's just going to say "more water", "more bread", "more coffee", and the same goal is

achieved, alright?

So, we can use "more" plus any kind of food and drink, alright?

You could use this at home as well.

If you have guests, you could ask them "more chicken", "more rice", okay?

So, you could use it with any kind of food or drink, alright?

Let's go to the next scenario.

Now, this you could use in an office situation.

Now, you could use the word "any" plus a number of other nouns, right?

So, you could say when you come into the office, "any messages", "any email", "any news", "any

word".

"Any word" means have we received any word from them, it's have we received any information

yet from someone regarding a particular topic, okay?

Or any luck, alright?

So, by asking this short question, we are avoiding asking a very long question, like

"do I have any messages", right?

Instead of saying all that, you can just shorten it because you're at work and you have a lot

of work to do, you're very busy, so you could just say "any messages", alright?

Now, what's important is to kind of raise the intonation of your voice towards the end

so it does sound like a question, because if your voice goes downwards, then it's going

to sound like you're depressed, so you want to be able to say "any messages" as in a question

versus "any messages", which sounds like you don't want any messages, okay?

So, you don't want that to happen, so make sure your voice goes upwards.

"Any messages", "any email", "any news", alright?

This also sounds a little more optimistic, alright?

So, you could use the word "any" in an office situation, in a business situation, and also

in a personal situation to talk about news or letters, deliveries, tickets, seats, messages,

and so on, okay?

So, that's something else you can keep in mind.

So, let's practice a little bit now.

How would you shorten some of these things?

So, suppose I wanted to ask someone, "Would you like some tea?"

So, instead of asking that, what could you say?

Or instead of saying "some", let's say "more", okay, since that's what we've practiced.

"Would you like some more tea?"

So, instead of saying, "Would you like some more tea?", you could simply ask, "More tea?",

right?

Or, "Do you want more dessert?", "Do you want some more dessert?"

Instead of that entire question, you could simply ask, "More dessert?", okay?

And if you do it with a smile on your face, then it sounds even more friendly.

And you could also ask another way, "Would you care for some more pie?", right?

"Would you care for some more cake?"

So, by saying "wouldn't care for", you're really asking the same thing.

It's another way of asking if you would like something, but instead of using this entire

expression, you could just say "more cake", "more pie", alright?

So, again, just use the "more" with food and drink.

Next one, in an office situation, how can you shorten these?

"Did you receive any deliveries?"

How do we shorten that question?

We just say, "Any deliveries?"

Or this one, "Are there any seats available?"

Instead of saying all this, we can just say, "Any seats available?" or "Any seats?"

Let's say you're buying tickets for a concert or you're buying seats on a flight, "Any seats?"

Or "Did you have any luck reaching the lawyer?"

Instead of saying, "Did you have any luck reaching the lawyer?" you can just say, "Any

luck?" or "Any luck reaching the lawyer?"

Right?

So, by doing that, you avoid some of the grammar which is sometimes a little bit more challenging

when you're asking questions, okay?

So, I hope this little technique will allow you to ask questions more easily, whether

it's in your personal life or in your professional life.

If you'd like some more practice on this topic or many other topics in English, please

visit our website, which is www.engvid.com.

Thanks very much for watching.

Bye for now, and good luck with your English.