PET Functional Language & Situations 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: You want to offer help to an elderly person carrying heavy bags. What do you say?
- Those bags look heavy.
- Let me take those for you, shall I? (Correct answer)
- Why are you carrying so much?
- You need help obviously.
Correct answer: Let me take those for you, shall I?
'Let me take those for you' is a direct, polite offer of help.
Question 2: You meet your neighbor's new baby for the first time. What is the most appropriate thing to say?
- Babies are a lot of work.
- Oh, she's adorable! Congratulations! (Correct answer)
- I'm not very fond of babies.
- When did this happen?
Correct answer: Oh, she's adorable! Congratulations!
Complimenting the baby and congratulating the parent is the expected social response.
Question 3: In a library, someone is talking loudly on their phone. You want them to be quieter. What do you say?
- Be quiet immediately!
- Excuse me, could you please keep your voice down? This is a library. (Correct answer)
- I'm going to report you.
- You're so rude!
Correct answer: Excuse me, could you please keep your voice down? This is a library.
Politely asking someone to lower their voice with 'could you' is appropriate in a public space.
Question 4: Your friend looks upset. You want to find out what's wrong. What do you say?
- Is something wrong? You don't seem yourself today. (Correct answer)
- Why are you upset? Tell me now.
- I don't want to know your problems.
- You always look like that.
Correct answer: Is something wrong? You don't seem yourself today.
Gently noting that something seems wrong and showing concern is the appropriate empathetic approach.
Question 5: You want to suggest going to the cinema to your friend. Which phrase is best?
- We're going to the cinema.
- What about going to the cinema tonight? (Correct answer)
- You should go to the cinema.
- I went to the cinema yesterday.
Correct answer: What about going to the cinema tonight?
'What about...?' is a common suggestion structure in English.
Question 6: A shop assistant gives you the wrong change. How do you point this out politely?
- You made a mistake!
- I'm sorry, but I think there may be an error with my change. (Correct answer)
- Give me the right change now.
- You always get things wrong.
Correct answer: I'm sorry, but I think there may be an error with my change.
Using 'I think there may be an error' is a polite way to point out a mistake without being accusatory.
Question 7: You are at a job interview and the interviewer asks: 'Do you have any questions for us?' You want to ask about working hours. What do you say?
- What time do I finish?
- Yes, I'd like to know what the typical working hours are. (Correct answer)
- No, I know everything already.
- Do you finish early on Fridays?
Correct answer: Yes, I'd like to know what the typical working hours are.
Asking about 'typical working hours' is professional and appropriately phrased for a job interview.
PET Functional Language & Situations 3
You want to offer help to an elderly person carrying heavy bags.
What do you say?