Explanation + Quiz
“COULD YOU ___?” for Asking for Help in a Hotel
When staying at a hotel, it’s important to know how to politely ask for help with problems or requests. One very polite way to do this is by using the phrase “Could you ___?” Here’s a simple structure to follow:
- Start with a polite introduction like “Excuse me” to get the staff’s attention.
- State the problem or situation briefly.
- Make your request politely using “Could you” followed by the action you need.
- End with “please” to keep it polite.
Here are some example scenarios:
Example 1: No Towels
Problem: You don’t have towels in your hotel room.
- Start: “Excuse me,”
- Problem: “There are no towels in my room.”
- Request: “Could you bring me some towels, please?”
Complete Example:
“Excuse me, there are no towels in my room. Could you bring me some towels, please?”
Example 2: Forgot Your Key
Problem: You forgot your key card inside the room.
- Start: “Excuse me,”
- Problem: “I forgot my key card in my room.”
- Request: “Could you open my door, please?”
Complete Example:
“Excuse me, I forgot my key card in my room. Could you open my door, please?”
Example 3: Room Cleaning
Problem: Your room hasn’t been cleaned yet.
- Start: “Excuse me,”
- Problem: “My room hasn’t been cleaned.”
- Request: “Could you send housekeeping, please?”
Complete Example:
“Excuse me, my room hasn’t been cleaned. Could you send housekeeping, please?”
Example 4: Extra Blanket
Problem: You need an extra blanket.
- Start: “Excuse me,”
- Problem: “It’s a bit cold in my room.”
- Request: “Could you bring me an extra blanket, please?”
Complete Example:
“Excuse me, it’s a bit cold in my room. Could you bring me an extra blanket, please?”
Key Points:
- “Could you” is more polite than “Can you,” so it’s perfect for formal situations like asking for help in a hotel.
- Always include “please” to make the request even more polite.
This is a useful structure to practice when you want to ask for help politely while traveling!
Practice
Quiz: Asking for Help in a Hotel Using “Could You ___?”
1. Problem: The remote control for the TV is missing. What would you say?
- A. Excuse me, the remote is missing. Could you bring me a remote, please?
- B. I don’t have a remote, bring me one.
- C. Can I get a remote?
2. Problem: You need more towels in your room. What would you say?
- A. Can I get towels in my room?
- B. I need more towels.
- C. Excuse me, there are no towels in my room. Could you bring me some towels, please?
3. Problem: The air conditioning isn’t working. What would you say?
- A. Can you fix the AC?
- B. Excuse me, the air conditioning isn’t working. Could you send someone to fix it, please?
- C. The AC is broken, fix it.
4. Problem: You need help with your luggage. What would you say?
- A. Could you help me carry my luggage, please?
- B. Bring my bags upstairs.
- C. Can someone help me with my bags?
5. Problem: The minibar needs restocking. What would you say?
- A. Can you refill the minibar?
- B. Excuse me, could you restock the minibar, please?
- C. There’s nothing in the minibar.
6. Problem: You’re out of soap in the bathroom. What would you say?
- A. Could you bring me some soap, please?
- B. I don’t have any soap, bring some.
- C. Can I get soap for the bathroom?
7. Problem: The Wi-Fi password is not working. What would you say?
- A. Excuse me, the Wi-Fi password isn’t working. Could you help me with that, please?
- B. What’s the Wi-Fi password?
- C. Can you fix the Wi-Fi?
8. Problem: You need extra pillows for the bed. What would you say?
- A. Bring me some pillows.
- B. Excuse me, could you bring me some extra pillows, please?
- C. Can I get pillows?
9. Problem: The shower isn’t working properly. What would you say?
- A. The shower is broken. Fix it.
- B. Excuse me, could you send someone to fix the shower, please?
- C. Can you fix the shower?
10. Problem: You’d like a wake-up call for 7 a.m. What would you say?
- A. Set a wake-up call for me.
- B. I need a wake-up call for 7 a.m.
- C. Excuse me, could you schedule a wake-up call for 7 a.m., please?
11. Problem: You’re not sure what time check-out is. What would you say?
- A. Excuse me, could you tell me what time check-out is, please?
- B. What time do I check out?
- C. When do I leave?
12. Problem: The room is too hot and you’d like to adjust the temperature. What would you say?
- A. It’s too hot in here, change the temperature.
- B. Excuse me, could you help me adjust the temperature in my room, please?
- C. Can you lower the temperature?
13. Problem: You would like to order room service. What would you say?
- A. I need food in my room.
- B. Excuse me, could you send some room service to my room, please?
- C. Can I get some food?
14. Problem: You’re out of coffee in the room. What would you say?
- A. Excuse me, could you bring me some more coffee, please?
- B. Can I get more coffee?
- C. I need more coffee now.
15. Problem: You need a taxi to the airport. What would you say?
- A. Excuse me, could you call me a taxi to the airport, please?
- B. I need a taxi.
- C. Can you get me a taxi?
16. Problem: You need directions to the gym. What would you say?
- A. Could you show me the gym?
- B. Excuse me, could you tell me where the gym is, please?
- C. Where’s the gym?
17. Problem: The room key isn’t working. What would you say?
- A. My key’s not working.
- B. Excuse me, could you help me with my room key, please?
- C. Can I get another key?
18. Problem: You need to ask about laundry services. What would you say?
- A. Excuse me, could you tell me how to use the laundry service, please?
- B. I need laundry service.
- C. Where’s the laundry?
19. Problem: The phone in the room doesn’t work. What would you say?
- A. Can I get a new phone?
- B. Excuse me, could you fix the phone in my room, please?
- C. My phone is broken.
20. Problem: You would like some water in your room. What would you say?
- A. Excuse me, could you bring me some water, please?
- B. Can I get some water?
- C. I need water in my room.
Answer Key
- A, 2. C, 3. B, 4. A, 5. B, 6. A, 7. A, 8. B, 9. B, 10. C, 11. A, 12. B, 13. B, 14. A, 15. A, 16. B, 17. B, 18. A, 19. B, 20. A