How to Offer Things in English as a Second Language

How to Offer Things in English as a Second Language Offering things in English is essential whenever you want to be polite, have guests at your home, or even organize a work event. The phrases below cover both how to offer various items to your guests, as well as how to accept offers graciously. Learn to use these phrases so that you can offer and accept things graciously and in a socially appropriate manner. Offering Phrases Its common to use phrases such as would you like and modal forms such as Can I or May I  to offer something. Here are some of the most important phrases used to offer something: Can I get you some...?Would you like some...?May I offer you some...?Would you like me to get you some...? Some mini-dialogues containing these asking phrases might be: Bob: Can I get you something to drink?Mary: Yes, that would be nice. Thank you.Jack: May I offer you some tea?Doug: Thank you.Alex: Would you like some lemonade?Susan: That would be nice. Thanks for offering. Always use some words when offering someone something. Informal Use these phrases when offering something in an everyday situation: How about some...?What about some...?What do you say about some...?Are you up for some...? Mini-dialogues  containing offering phrases in informal situations would be: Dan: What about something to drink?Helga: Sure, do you have any scotch?Judy: Are you up for some dinner?Zina: Hey, thanks. Whats on the menu?Keith: What do you say about going bowling?Bob:  That sounds like a good idea! Accepting Offers Accepting offers is just as important, or even more important, than offering things. Make sure to thank your host. If you dont want to accept an offer, politely refuse. Offering an excuse is also a good idea in order not to offend your host. The following phrases are commonly used when accepting offers: Thank you.Id love to.Id love some.That would be nice.Thank you. Id like... Some examples of accepting phrases include: Frank: May I get you something to drink?Kevin: Thank you. Id like a cup of coffee.Linda: Would you like me to get you some food?Evan: That would be nice. Thank you.Homer: May I offer you something to drink?Bart: Thank you. Id like a soda. Politely Refusing Offers Sometimes its necessary to politely refuse an offer even if its a kind one. In such cases, use these phrases to politely refuse offers. Provide a reason why you want to refuse an offer rather than just saying no.   Thank you, but...Thats very kind. Unfortunately, I...Id like to, but... Examples of using polite refusals in dialogue include: Jane: Would you like some cookies?David: Thank you, but Im on a diet.Allison: How about a cup of tea?Pat: Id like to have a cup of tea. Unfortunately, Im late for a meeting. Can I take a rain check?Avram: How about some wine?Tom: No thank you. Im watching my weight.

Tips for Writing 5 Types of Sports Stories

Tips for Writing 5 Types of Sports Stories Getting a handle on sportswriting can be daunting because there are so many different kinds of stories that can be done. For the aspiring sportswriter, these are some of the main types. The Straight-Lede Game Story The straight-lede game story is the most basic story in all of sportswriting. Its just what it sounds like: an article about a game that uses a straight-news type of lede. The lede summarizes the main points- who won, who lost, the score, and what the star player did. Heres an example of this kind of lede: Quarterback Pete Faust threw three touchdown passes to lead the Jefferson High School Eagles to a 21-7 victory over crosstown rival McKinley High. The rest of the story follows from there, with an account of the big plays and playmakers, and after-game quotes from coaches and players. Because they often focus on high school and small-college teams, straight-lede game stories tend to be fairly tightly written. Straight-lede game stories are still used for coverage of high school and some college sports. But theyre used less nowadays for pro sports. Why? Because pro sports are seen on TV and most fans of a particular team know the score of a game long before they read about it. The Feature-Lede Game Story Feature-lede game stories are common for pro sports. Readers usually already know the score of pro games as soon as theyre done, so when they pick up a sports section they want stories that offer a different angle on what happened and why. Heres an example of a game story feature lede: It had rained all that day in the city of brotherly love, so when the Philadelphia Eagles took the field the ground was already a soggy mess- much like the game that would follow. So it was somehow fitting that the Eagles would lose 31-7 to the Dallas Cowboys in a contest that was one of the worst of quarterback Donovan McNabbs career. McNabb threw two interceptions and fumbled the ball three times. The story starts out with some description and doesnt get to the final score until the second paragraph. Again, thats fine: readers will already know the score. Its the writers job to give them something more. Delayed-lede game stories tend to be a bit more in-depth that straight-lede stories, and as a result are often longer. Profiles The sports world is full of colorful characters, so its no surprise that personality profiles are a staple of sportswriting. Whether its a charismatic coach or a young athlete on the rise, some of the best profiles anywhere are found in sports sections. Heres an example of a profile lede: Norman Dale surveys the court as his players practice layups. A pained look crosses the face of the coach of the McKinley High School basketball team as one player after another misses the basket. Again! he shouts. Again! You dont stop! You dont quit! You work till you get it right! And so they continue until they start to get it right. Coach Dale wouldnt have it any other way. Season Preview and Wrap-Up Stories Season previews and wrap-ups are fixtures of the sportswriters repertoire. These are done any time a team and a coach are preparing for the coming season, or when the season has just ended, either in glory or infamy. Obviously, the focus here isnt a specific game or even individual, but a broad look at the season- how the coach and players expect things to go, or how they feel once that season is done. Heres an example of a lede for this kind of story: Coach Jenna Johnson has high hopes for the Pennwood High School womens basketball team this year. After all, the Lions were city champions last year, led by the play of Juanita Ramirez, who returns to the team this year as a senior. We expect great things from her, Coach Johnson says. Columns A column is where the sportswriter gets to vent his or her opinions, and the best sports columnists do just that, fearlessly. Often that means being very tough on coaches, players or teams who dont meet expectations, particularly at the pro level, where all concerned are being paid huge salaries to do just one thing- win. But sports columnists also focus on those they admire, whether its an inspirational coach who leads a team of underdogs to a great season, or a mostly unheralded player who may be short on natural talent but makes up for it with hard work and unselfish play. Heres an example of how a sports column might begin: Lamont Wilson certainly isnt the tallest player on the McKinley High School basketball team. At 5-foot-9, hes hard to spot in the sea of mid 6-footers on the court. But Wilson is the model of an unselfish team player, the kind of athlete who makes those around him shine. I just do whatever I can to help the team, the ever-modest Wilson says.