Asking for a favor. Словарь

What is a favor?
Here’s what the dictionary says:
Favor – a kind or helpful act that you do for someone.
When we ask someone to do something for us, we ask for a favor. How can we do this correctly in English?

Let’s find out:

• Can you (do something) for me, please? – Не мог бы ты (сделать что-то) для меня, пожалуйста?
• Could you do me a favor? – Сделай одолжение!
• Would you be so kind as to …. – Не будешь ли ты настолько добр, чтобы…
• Could you please help me with… - Не мог бы ты помочь мне с…
• Could you possibly… - А не мог бы ты случайно…
• Could I bother/ask/trouble you to … - Могу ли я тебя побеспокоить ради…
• Would you mind doing something… for me? – Ты не против сделать… для меня?
• Could you please lend me a few dollars? – не одолжишь ли ты мне пару долларов?
• Would it be too much trouble for you to… - Будет ли это слишком сложно для вас сделать…

Here is how we can grant a favor (say that we will do what is asked):

• Sure, no problem.
• I’d be happy to help.
• It would be my pleasure.
• I’d be glad to. – C радостью
• Yes, of course! What's the problem? – Конечно, в чем проблема?
• Sure, it looks like your hands are full – Конечно, у тебя и так дел по горло.

Refusing (saying no) to a favor:

• Well, sorry, but no. – Ну, извините, но нет.
• I'm afraid I can't. – Боюсь не смогу.
• Sorry, but I'm unable to… - Извини, но я не могу…
• Unfortunately, I'm busy on Monday – К сожалению, я занят в понедельник.

If someone helped us (did us a favor), we need to thank this person!

Here are some slang phrases for doing a favor:

• Can you do me a solid? = Can you do me a favor?
• Can you do me a lemon? = Can you do me a favor?
• Can you help me out? – выручишь меня?
• You owe me a solid. – Ты мне должен = You owe me a big favor.
• Scratch my back = idiom “You scratch my back and I’ll scratch yours”. = if you do a favor for me, I’ll do a favor for you. We can also say “I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine.”
• Bro me a favor = bro me a solid = do me a favor
• Spot me a fiver? – одолжишь пятерик?

And as usual, here's a video of Ross asking Rachel for a “small” favor: