In the office: asking for things
CECR: A1
Read/Listen first
At the office, a woman sits at her desk. She has a computer, a desk chair, and a small lamp. Next to her, there is a copy machine and a fax machine. She needs paperclips and a file for a meeting. She asks, "Can I borrow your stapler? Can I use your copy machine? Do you have a file?" Her coworker smiles and says, "Yes, you can."⚡ Learning goals
- Can ask to borrow simple office objects politely.
- Can ask to use a basic machine in the office.
- Can ask and answer if someone has a simple office item.
✨ Key language
- Can I borrow your + object? Can I borrow your stapler, please?
- Can I use your + machine? Can I use your copy machine?
- Do you have a/an + object? Do you have a file?
⚙️ Rules & Grammar — 4 Structures
1️⃣ a/an with office objects
Rule: Use a or an before one office object.Examples: I have a computer on my desk.; She has a desk chair in her cubicle.; There is a lamp on the desk.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners sometimes drop a or an before a noun — Always add a or an before one object.
Choose the best sentence.
Tip: Use a before a consonant sound.
Fill with the best answer: ___ computer is on my desk.
Tip: We use a with words like computer.
2️⃣ plural -s for office objects
Rule: Add -s to make more than one office object.Examples: I have two files on my desk.; There are many paperclips in the box.; Our office has three cubicles.
Common pitfall + fix: Learners sometimes forget the final -s — Add -s when there is more than one thing.
Choose the correct plural sentence.
Tip: Use -s when there is more than one.
Fill with the best answer: I need three ______ for this file.
Tip: Use the plural form for more than one item.
3️⃣ Can I borrow your + object?
Rule: Use Can I borrow your + object to ask for something that is not yours.Examples: Can I borrow your stapler?; Can I borrow your desk chair?; Can I borrow your file?
Common pitfall + fix: Learners sometimes say Give me your stapler — Use polite questions with Can I borrow instead.
Choose the most polite question.
Tip: Start polite requests with Can I borrow.
Fill with the best answer: Can I ______ your desk chair?
Tip: Use borrow, not take, in this question.
4️⃣ Do you have (a) + object?
Rule: Use Do you have to ask if an item is available.Examples: Do you have paperclips?; Do you have a file?; Do you have a cubicle here?
Common pitfall + fix: Learners sometimes say You have paperclips? — Add Do at the start of the question.
Choose the correct question.
Tip: Start the question with Do you have.
Fill with the best answer: ______ paperclips?
Tip: Write the full question with Do you have.
✍️ Vocabulary
computer
Meaning: a machine you use to work or write emails at the office.Synonyms: work computer, office computer
Chunk/Idiom: use the computer
Example: I use my computer every day at the office.
Morphology: noun; regular plural: computers
Self-practice: Say three things you do on your computer.
desk chair
Meaning: the chair you sit on at your desk at work.Synonyms: office chair, work chair
Chunk/Idiom: sit on the desk chair
Example: My desk chair is next to my computer desk.
Morphology: noun; plural: desk chairs
Self-practice: Describe the colour and shape of your desk chair.
paperclips
Meaning: small metal things that hold pieces of paper together.Synonyms: metal clips, office clips
Chunk/Idiom: need some paperclips
Example: I need paperclips for these new files today.
Morphology: noun; plural only: paperclips
Self-practice: Count out five paperclips and say the number aloud.
stapler
Meaning: a small tool that puts metal staples into papers.Synonyms: office stapler, paper stapler
Chunk/Idiom: borrow a stapler
Example: Can I borrow your stapler for this report?
Morphology: noun; regular plural: staplers
Self-practice: Make one polite question to borrow a stapler.
copy machine
Meaning: a machine that makes copies of documents on paper.Synonyms: copier machine, office copier
Chunk/Idiom: use the copy machine
Example: I use the copy machine before every meeting.
Morphology: noun; plural: copy machines
Self-practice: Say when you need the copy machine at work.
cubicle
Meaning: a small work space with low walls in an office.Synonyms: office cubicle, work cubicle
Chunk/Idiom: sit in a cubicle
Example: She sits in a small cubicle with her computer.
Morphology: noun; plural: cubicles
Self-practice: Say one thing you have in your cubicle or office.
☁️ Examples (+ audio)
Can I borrow your stapler, please?
Can I use your copy machine now?
Do you have a file for the meeting?
Yes, you can use my computer today.
✏️ Exercises
Grammar
Choose the correct question.
Tip: Use Can I borrow for a polite question.
Choose the correct question.
Tip: Start with Do you have in A1 questions.
Fill with the best answer:
I have ___ computer at my desk.Tip: Use a with singular nouns like computer.
Fill with the best answer:
I need three ______ for this file.Tip: Remember the plural form with -s.
Vocabulary & Comprehension
Which item do you sit on at your desk?
Tip: Think about where you sit in the office.
Which machine makes copies of documents?
Tip: Look back at the mini text for help.
Fill with the best answer:
______ copy machine?Tip: Use the full polite question from the story.
Fill with the best answer:
A coworker says, “____, you can.”Tip: Remember the short answer from the mini story.
✅ Guided practice
Mini-dialogue:
A: Can I borrow your stapler, please?B: Yes, you can. It is on my desk.
A: Thank you. I only need it for this file.
Why this matters:
Using polite questions in the office helps you work well with coworkers. It makes it easy to ask for the things you need. Simple questions like these are very useful every day.Verb & Adjective Pack:
borrow — Can I borrow your stapler?use — I use the copy machine before my meeting.
busy — My office is busy in the morning.
helpful — My coworker is helpful with office tools.
Try & compare:
Fill with the best answer: ______ your file?
Tip: Start with Can I in polite questions.
Self-correction: Fix the sentence: I no have trash can.
Tip: Use do not or don’t with have.
Practice aloud: Listen, repeat, then type the sentence.
Can I use your computer?
Tip: Say the question aloud before you type it.