What happens in the video
Hana welcomes Marco with mixed signals: "Relax. Feel welcome. Touch nothing, especially my cookies." Marco asks if he should relax like a statue. Hana apologizes, says "Make yourself at home," and offers him a cookie, and Marco points out that he baked those cookies himself.
1 Come on in.
Tone Casual and friendly
Say it at the open door when a guest arrives and you want them to step inside. It's relaxed, so it fits friends, neighbors, and visitors at home, but it may sound too casual at a formal office reception.
No. Come on in.
For example:
A: Hi! Sorry, am I too early?
B: Not at all. Come on in.
A: Thanks. It smells great in here.
2 Help yourself.
Tone Warm, easy offer
Use it for food or drinks when the guest can take what they want without asking again. Don't use it for things you don't really want to share.
Absolutely. Help yourself.
For example:
A: Can I have some of this fruit?
B: Of course. Help yourself.
A: Thank you.
3 Make yourself at home.
Tone The warmest welcome
Use it to tell a guest to relax completely, as if they were in their own home. Say it when you mean it; it sounds strange if you then give the guest a list of rules.
Make yourself at home.
For example:
A: What a nice apartment.
B: Thanks. Make yourself at home.
A: Great. I'll sit by the window.
4 Have a seat.
Tone Polite and simple
Use it to invite a guest to sit down, at home or at work. It's friendly but also works in more formal places, like an office or a meeting.
For example:
A: Hello, I'm here to see Ms. Lee.
B: She'll be right with you. Have a seat.
5 Can I get you something to drink?
Tone Kind and attentive
Ask it soon after the guest sits down. It fits almost any situation, from a friend's visit to a business guest.
For example:
A: Can I get you something to drink?
B: Just some water, please.
A: Sure, one moment.
6 Let me take your coat.
Tone Polite and helpful
Say it when a guest comes in wearing a coat or carrying a bag. It shows care, but skip it in warm weather or if the guest is only staying for a minute.
For example:
A: Brr, it's cold outside.
B: Let me take your coat.
A: Thanks, that's kind of you.
7 Feel free to use anything you need.
Tone Generous and relaxed
Use it when a guest is staying for a while, for example overnight. It gives permission in advance, so the guest doesn't have to ask about every small thing.
For example:
A: Thanks for letting me stay tonight.
B: No problem. Feel free to use anything you need.
A: Even the good towels?
B: Even the good towels.
8 Thanks for coming.
Tone Grateful and warm
Say it when a guest arrives or when they leave. It works for parties, family visits, and work events.
For example:
A: I had a really nice time.
B: Me too. Thanks for coming.
Common mistakes
-
Not quite
Make you at home.Better Make yourself at home.
The phrase uses the reflexive pronoun yourself because the guest is the one who should feel at home. For more than one guest, say "Make yourselves at home."
-
Not quite
Help you.Better Help yourself.
"Help yourself" means "take what you want." "Help you" is not a complete phrase, and "Can I help you?" is a different offer, often used in shops.
-
Not quite
Come in on.Better Come on in.
The word order is fixed. "Come in" is fine too, but "Come on in" sounds warmer and more casual.
Quick quiz
Choose your answer for each question, then open the answer to check it.
-
Your friend arrives at your door. Which line invites them inside in a casual, friendly way?
- Help yourself.
- Come on in.
- Thanks for coming.
Show the answer (Question 1)
Answer: Come on in. "Come on in" is what you say at the open door to invite someone inside.
-
You put snacks on the table for guests. What do you say?
- Help yourself.
- Make you at home.
- Let me take your coat.
Show the answer (Question 2)
Answer: Help yourself. "Help yourself" tells guests they can take food or drinks freely.
-
Which line is the warmest way to tell a guest to relax completely?
- Have a seat.
- Make yourself at home.
- Come on in.
Show the answer (Question 3)
Answer: Make yourself at home. "Make yourself at home" means the guest should feel as relaxed as in their own home.
-
Two guests arrive together. Which sentence is correct?
- Make yourself at home, both of you.
- Make yourselves at home.
- Make yourselfs at home.
Show the answer (Question 4)
Answer: Make yourselves at home. For more than one person, the reflexive pronoun is "yourselves."
-
In the Short, Hana says "Feel welcome" but also "Touch nothing." Why is this funny?
- The rule doesn't match the welcome.
- "Feel welcome" is rude.
- "Touch nothing" is a warm offer.
Show the answer (Question 5)
Answer: The rule doesn't match the welcome. A real welcome invites the guest to relax, so a strict rule makes the welcome sound false.
Questions learners ask
What does "make yourself at home" mean?
It means "relax and feel comfortable here, as if this were your own home." A host says it to a guest. It's a friendly invitation, not a literal instruction.
Is "help yourself" polite?
Yes. It's a warm, easy offer that means the guest can take food or drinks without asking. It's common at home, at parties, and in casual office settings.
What's the difference between "come in" and "come on in"?
Both invite someone inside. "Come on in" sounds a little warmer and more relaxed. In a formal office, a simple "Come in" or "Please come in" is often a better fit.
How do I answer when someone says "make yourself at home"?
A simple "Thanks" or "Thank you, that's kind of you" works well. You can also say something nice about the place, like "What a lovely room."
Film lines are short quotes used for language teaching. The dialogue belongs to its rightsholders. Hana and Marco are animated characters made with Google Flow.
