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How smart people say "What do you want?" | English from movies
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Select a line to hear it again. Tap any word to see what it means. Underlined words are the key words of this video.
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Theo do you ? I'm .
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Hana . I , but the can it.
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Tutor and .
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Luca 's on ?
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Tutor and .
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Tetris How can I you?
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Tutor and .
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Bride & Prejudice can I do for you?
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Theo . How can I you?
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Hana Eat me. The no.
Choose an answer for each question, then check it.
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Question 1
Your friend looks worried and is not talking. Which line fits best?
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Question 2
A client comes to your office desk. Which line is the most professional?
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Question 3
Which question has the correct word order?
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Question 4
You work in a cafe. A customer comes to the counter. What do you say?
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Question 5
In the Short, why does Theo change "What do you want?" to "How can I help you?"
Quick answer
How smart people say "What do you want?"
To ask what someone needs without sounding rude, try "How can I help you?" or "What can I do for you?" at work, and "What's on your mind?" with a friend who looks worried. "What do you want?" is a normal question, but said quickly by someone busy, it can sound annoyed. A softer line makes the other person feel welcome.
Key words in this video
Tap any word to see what it means. Underlined words are the key words of this video.
Each line explained
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What's on your mind? Tone: Warm and friendly
Use it when a friend, partner, or coworker looks worried or quiet and you want them to talk. It isn't a good fit at a service desk, because it asks about feelings, not tasks.
“What's on your mind?”
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How can I help you? Tone: Polite and helpful
Good with coworkers and customers, in person or on the phone. With close friends it can sound a little formal, so a plain "What's up?" may fit better.
“How can I help you?”
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What can I do for you? Tone: Polite and professional
Great for clients and visitors who come to your office, shop, or desk. It sounds ready to act. Don't use it when someone just wants to chat, because it suggests they came for a task.
“What can I do for you?”
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What do you need? Tone: Direct and practical
Use it with people you know when time is short and you want to help fast. Say it in a calm voice, or it can sound impatient.
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Is there something I can help you with? Tone: Gentle and polite
Use it when someone seems lost or unsure, like a visitor looking around. It works with strangers, but it's long for a quick chat with a friend.
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What brings you here? Tone: Friendly and curious
Use it when someone arrives and you want to know the reason for the visit. It's friendly, but it isn't right when the reason is obvious, like a customer at a checkout.
Common mistakes
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Not quite
How I can help you?Better How can I help you?
In a question, can comes before the subject I. "How I can help you" is only correct inside a longer sentence, like "Tell me how I can help you."
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Not quite
What can I do to you?Better What can I do for you?
Use for when you do something to help a person. "Do something to someone" often means affecting them in a bad way, so it sounds strange or even threatening.
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Not quite
A customer walks in and you say: "What do you want?"Better A customer walks in and you say: "How can I help you?"
"What do you want?" is grammatically fine, but with customers it can sound rude or annoyed. A service line sounds welcoming.
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