24.2 The Sentence Particle 吖 aa1 II (Request)
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In Grammar and Vocabulary 16.3, we learned to use the sentence particle 吖 aa1 to form suggestions.
We can also use the sentence particle 吖 aa1 to make requests.
| A: | 你想book幾點嘅？ nei5 soeng2 buk1 gei2 dim2 ge2? What time do you want to book for? |
| B: | 幫我book六點半吖。 bong1 ngo5 buk1 luk6 dim2 bun3 aa1. Please book for 6:30 for me. |
We also often use 吖 aa1 when indicating our choice at a restaurant or a shop. We use 吖 aa1 because we are indirectly requesting the staff to take the follow-up action based on our choice.
| A: | 你想book幾點嘅？ nei5 soeng2 buk1 gei2 dim2 ge2? What time do you want to book for? |
| B: | 六點半吖。 luk6 dim2 bun3 aa1. 6:30, please. |
We sometimes use the modal verb 想 soeng2 (‘to want to’) to make requests indirectly. We don’t usually use 吖 aa1 in a sentence with 想 soeng2 even if we are making a request.
| A: | 喂，壽司人。 wai2, sau6 si1 jan4. Hello, Sushiet [a fictional restaurant]. |
| B: | ❌ 我想book位吖。 ngo5 soeng2 buk1 wai2 aa1. ✔️ 我想book位嘅。 ngo5 soeng2 buk1 wai2 ge3. I want to book seats. |