01 / The basic idea
Ask for something.
Ask someone to help.
Choose the verb that fits the situation.
Give you some water.
Pass you your jacket.
Lend you a car.
Serve you a coffee.
First, choose a verb. Then, make your request and listen to the reply.
02 / Choose a verb
Five useful situations
| Verb | When to use it | Textbook example |
|---|---|---|
| dar | Ask someone to give you something. | ¿Me das otro vaso de agua, por favor? |
| pasar | Ask someone to pass you something. | ¿Me pasas la chaqueta, por favor? |
| prestar / dejar | Borrow something and return it later. | ¿Me prestas / dejas tu coche este fin de semana? |
| tener | Ask if someone has something you need. | ¿Tienes un bolígrafo? |
| poner | Order in a café, bar or food shop. | ¿Me pone un cortado, por favor? |
These are typical uses. Dar does not always mean “keep it forever”.
¿Tienes un bolígrafo? literally asks “Do you have a pen?” In the right situation, it can also be a way to ask to borrow one.
03 / Make the request
One useful pattern
Me means “to me” or “for me” here.
Por favor means “please”.
Speaking to tú
¿Me das / pasas / prestas…?
¿Me pones un cortado?
Speaking to usted
¿Me pone un cortado?
The waiter can also ask what you want:
¿Te pongo algo más? ¿Un café?
¿Qué le pongo?
Here, the waiter is offering to serve the customer. Te refers to tú; le refers to usted.
04 / Respond
Say yes — or explain why not.
| What you want to say | Useful replies |
|---|---|
| Yes, I can help. | Claro. / Sí, sin problema. |
| Here you are. | Sí, toma. |
| Right away! | ¡Enseguida! |
| Sorry — here is my reason. | Lo siento. Es que… |
— ¿Me prestas tu coche este fin de semana?
— Uy, este fin de semana imposible. Es que lo necesito. Lo siento.
Es que… introduces the reason. Lo siento adds an apology.
05 / Practice
Choose the best verb.
Read the situation. Choose an answer, then check the feedback.
1. You want another glass of water.
¿Me ______ otro vaso de agua, por favor?
2. Your jacket is next to your friend. You want your friend to pass it to you.
¿Me ______ la chaqueta, por favor?
3. You want to borrow your friend’s car for the weekend.
¿Me ______ tu coche este fin de semana?
4. You need a pen. You do not know if your friend has one.
¿______ un bolígrafo?
5. You are ordering a coffee in a café. You are speaking to the waiter using usted.
¿Me ______ un cortado, por favor?
Which words in each situation helped you choose?