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🤝 A1 Grammar • 12 Mins

Polite words and short phrases

Learn simple everyday manners: thanking, apologizing, asking strangers, and replying politely.

💡 How to use this lesson

👩‍🏫 Teacher Note

Guide students through the 4 simple rules in 12 minutes. Check all answers together at the end of class.

🎓 Learner Note

Read the 4 easy rules first to see the right and wrong patterns. Then complete the 12 short practice items below.

📖 Easy Rules & Patterns

See how to speak politely with right and wrong examples side by side.

Thanking for a thing or an action

Say Thank you for before a noun or an -ing word. Do not leave out for.

✅ Right

"Thank you for the pizza."

❌ Wrong

"Thank you the pizza."

Saying sorry after a mistake

Say Sorry for before a noun, or Sorry before a short sentence to explain what went wrong.

✅ Right

"Sorry for the noise."

❌ Wrong

"Sorry the noise."

Asking strangers or getting past someone

Say Excuse me before a question to a stranger or to move past. Do not use it for mistakes (use Sorry).

✅ Right

"Excuse me, what time is it?"

❌ Wrong

"Sorry, what time is it?"

Replying to thanks and offers

Answer thanks with You're welcome or No problem. Answer offers with Yes, please or No, thank you (never say Yes/No alone).

✅ Right

A: Thank you for the tea. B: You're welcome.

❌ Wrong

A: Thank you for the tea. B: "Yes."

✍️ Practice Time (12 Questions)

Test your knowledge with 4 different activity types.

Part 1: Choose the correct sentence

1 Which sentence is correct when you show respect for a rule? (polite)

____ a. Thank you your respect for the rule. ____ b. Thank you for your respect for the rule. ____ c. Excuse me for your respect for the rule.

2 You make a mess by putting your elbow on the dinner table. What do you say? (sorry)

____ a. Sorry for the mess with my elbow. ____ b. Sorry the mess with my elbow. ____ c. Excuse me for the mess with my elbow.

3 A stranger offers to hold the trash bag for you. How do you accept politely? (polite)

____ a. Yes. ____ b. You're welcome. ____ c. Yes, please.

Part 2: Rewrite the situation as one polite sentence

4 Your friend holds the door for you. (thank)

Write one polite sentence starting with "Thank you for...":

____

5 You push an old lady by mistake on the bus. (sorry)

Write one polite sentence starting with "Sorry...":

____

6 You want to ask a stranger to explain a rule in class. (excuse)

Write one polite sentence starting with "Excuse me...":

____

Part 3: Fill in the gaps

7 Fill in the missing polite words: (thank)

____ for taking out the trash.

8 Complete the short conversation: (polite)

A: Thank you for your help!

B: No ____ .

9 Fill in the missing word before asking a stranger:

____ me, can you answer my question?

Part 4: Correct the error in each message

10 Correct the chat message: (thank)

💬 "Thank you the tea."

Type the correct full sentence below:

____

11 Correct the chat message after a mistake: (sorry)

💬 "Sorry for I put my elbow on the table."

Type the correct full sentence below:

____

12 Correct Person B's answer to make it polite: (polite)

A: "Do you want some cake?"
B: "Yes."

Type Person B's correct polite response:

____

Polite words and short phrases

Polite words and short phrases

💡 How to use this lesson

📖 Easy Rules & Patterns

Thanking for a thing or an action

Saying sorry after a mistake

Asking strangers or getting past someone

Replying to thanks and offers

✍️ Practice Time (12 Questions)

Part 1: Choose the correct sentence

Part 2: Rewrite the situation as one polite sentence

Part 3: Fill in the gaps

Part 4: Correct the error in each message

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