· Excuse me, can you tell me the way to the post office ?
· Did I step on your toe? Excuse me.
· A : Is this your bag?
B : Excuse me.
A : I asked if this was your bag ?
Excuse me is a polite expression used:
1. to attract someone’s attention:
Excuse me, can you tell me the way to the museum,please?
2. To tell someone that you are leaving a place:
Excuse me for a moment, Mr Astaman, but I have a lunch appointment in ten minutes
3. to say you are sorry when you hit someone accidentally,make a small mistake etc:
Oh, excuse me, did I spell your name wrong?
4. to ask someone to repeat something that they have just said:
A : What time is it?
B : Excuse me?
A : I asked you what time it is.
Dialogue 1
Riki : Is it your book?
Jamal : Pardon?
Riki : I said is it your book?
Dialogue 2
Riki : I think you’re sitting on my jacket.
Jamal : I do beg your pardon,I didn’t know that thiswas your seat.
Riki : That’s all right.
People say I beg your pardon or pardon or pardon me as a very polite way of asking someone to repeat what she/he just said because you did not hear or understand it.
Example : Pardon, you have to talk louder, I can’t hear you.
The expressions are also used to say that you are sorry because you have just made a mistake.
Example : I do beg your pardon, I thought you were someone else.
You use please :
1. When you want to ask for something politely:
I’d like a cup of coffee, please.
2. When politely asking to do something:
Could I speak to Brian, please?
3. When you are politely accepting an offer:
More toast?Yes, please.
4. When requesting information:
Please, Sir, how do you spell that?
Waitress : Good afternoon. Can I help you?
Riki : Good afternoon. Yes, I’d like fried chicken with fried and a coke, please.
Waitress : Would you like a regular or large coke?
Riki : Regular, please.
Waitress : Would you like anything else?
Riki : Yes, I’d like an ice cream, please.
Waitress : What flavour would you like?
Riki : Chocolate, please.
Waitress : OK.
