General English Level 2 GELEV2 Unit 03 Topic 02.doc  LANGUAGE FOCUS 03 Asking for permission Yasu and the woman say: Yasu: Excuse me, do you mind if we put our bags here? Woman: Not at all. Yasu is asking for permission. He is asking “Is it OK to put our bags here?” He says “Excuse me” to be very polite. Asking for permission Answer Do you mind if Not at all. Is it OK if we put our bags here? I sit here? Yes, sure. No problem. Excuse me. Can I sit here? put my bags here? No problem. Of course. Examples 1 Listen to your recording. 1. Do you mind if I close the window? Not at all. 2. Can we go home now? Yes, you can. 3. Can I borrow your pen? Yes, sure. 4. Is it OK if I use your phone? No problem. Sometimes we say no. When we say no, we usually give a reason. This is polite. PRACTICE – Asking for permission Part A 1. Read the questions. 2. Put them in the correct order. 1. mind me use dictionary? Excuse do your you I if _____________________________________________________________________ 2. OK phone? me Excuse use it your is if I _____________________________________________________________________ 3. window close Can please the you _____________________________________________________________________ 4. mind you smoke if Do I _____________________________________________________________________ 5. ask Is question OK a it I if _____________________________________________________________________ 87 QUESTLANGUAGE