LIFE001 · Ordering Drinks: Language from the Bar

🍹 At the Bar: Ordering Drinks

Level: A1  |  Time: 5 min  |  Focus: Vocabulary + Functional language

📖 From Sourov’s notebook: My first real job in Sydney was behind a bar in a busy restaurant. Every night someone asked for something I had never heard of. I learned English one drink at a time.

🔑 Key Phrases

Asking	Responding
Can I have a coffee, please?	Of course! Milk and sugar?
What would you like to drink?	I’d like a glass of water.
Is this table free?	Yes, go ahead!

🗣️ Pronunciation Corner

Listen for the weak form: “a” = /ə/ (not “ay”)
“Can I have a coffee?” → “kən aɪ hæv ə ˈkɒfi?”
Tap the rhythm: da DA da da DA da DA

✏️ Quick Activity — Fill the Gap

Use: have / like / free / please

1. Can I _______ a lemonade?
2. I’d _______ an orange juice.
3. Is this seat _______?
4. A tea, _______ !

👀 Show Answers

1. have   2. like   3. free   4. please

⭐ Today’s takeaway: “Can I have…?” is the safest, most polite way to order in English. It works in a café, a restaurant, and a five-star hotel.