English grammar
Café English: What can I get you? · Could I have…? · There you go · love, duck, pet
Order and serve politely the British way, and recognise regional terms like love and duck.
From the scene Could I have a tinto?
In short
Staff ask What can I get you? Order with Could I have…, please? Handing it over, say There you go.
Your turn
Which one goes with ordering politely (British)?
Options: Could I have a tinto, please? · What can I get you? · There you go.
Show answer
ordering politely (British) → Could I have a tinto, please?
How it works
Staff ask What can I get you? You answer Could I have…? or I'll have…, please (Can I get…? is American and sounds pushy to some British ears).
Good to know
Handing something over, people say There you go.
Good to know
Sellers all over Britain call customers love, and some places have their own word: duck in the Midlands, pet in the North East, hen in Scotland. It's friendly, not rude.
the server's question What can I get you?
Javi
I'm minding my cousin's stall. Morning, all! What can I get you?
Le cuido el puesto a mi prima. ¡Buenos días a todos! ¿Qué les pongo?
Your turn
What fills the gap?
I'm minding my cousin's stall. Morning, all! (blank)?
Options: Could I have a tinto · There you go · What can I get you
Show answer
Javi
I'm minding my cousin's stall. Morning, all! What can I get you?
Le cuido el puesto a mi prima. ¡Buenos días a todos! ¿Qué les pongo?
ordering politely (British) Could I have a tinto, please?
Javi
Here you ask like this: "Could I have a tinto, please?"
Aquí se pide así: «¿Me regala un tinto?»
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Here you ask like this: "(blank)?"
Options: Could I have a tinto, please · What can I get you · There you go
Show answer
Javi
Here you ask like this: "Could I have a tinto, please?"
Aquí se pide así: «¿Me regala un tinto?»
handing something over There you go.
Javi
There you go, Doña Elena. "Duck" is from the Midlands.
Aquí tiene, doña Elena. «Duck» es de las Midlands.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), Doña Elena. "Duck" is from the Midlands.
Options: What can I get you · Could I have a tinto · There you go
Show answer
Javi
There you go, Doña Elena. "Duck" is from the Midlands.
Aquí tiene, doña Elena. «Duck» es de las Midlands.
friendly address (all over Britain) Sorry, love.
Javi
Sorry, duck: that's two thousand pesos.
Lo siento, cariño: son dos mil pesos.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank), duck: that's two thousand pesos.
Options: What can I get you · Please · Sorry
Show answer
Javi
Sorry, duck: that's two thousand pesos.
Lo siento, cariño: son dos mil pesos.
regional address (Midlands / North East / Scotland) duck · pet · hen
Common mistake
Not swan or goose here. The Midlands word.
Sorry, duck: that's two thousand pesos.
Lo siento, cariño: son dos mil pesos.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| the server's question | What can I get you? |
|---|---|
| ordering politely (British) | Could I have a tinto, please? |
| handing something over | There you go. |
| friendly address (all over Britain) | Sorry, love. |
| regional address (Midlands / North East / Scotland) | duck · pet · hen |
More lines from the story
- JaviTinto is black coffee, my love. Not wine.Tinto es café solo, mi amor. No es vino.
- ElenaWell then, duck, could I have a tinto?Pues entonces, corazón, ¿me pone un tinto?