Advertising - LEO without ads? LEO Pur
LEO

It looks like you’re using an ad blocker.

Would you like to support LEO?

Disable your ad blocker for LEO or make a donation.

 
  •  
  • Forum home

    Language lab

    Restaurantbesuch/restaurant language

    Topic

    Restaurantbesuch/restaurant language

    Comment
    Yesterday I talked to my Indian neighbours (Mom and daughter) about restaurant language. I asked her if one could say "I'd have a hamburger' (as opposed to I'd like a../I'll have) and she said yes whereas the daughter said she would never say so and would consider this wrong.
    We also weren't sure whether one could say I take the pumpkin soup (I'd ask where to)or I like(a) pumpkin soup (I'd answer you've strange preferences.


    AuthorMariam.de04 May 09, 13:54
    Comment
    If you say I'd have a hamburger I would expect a but to follow:

    I'd have a hamburger but they're too expensive/don't like very nice etc.

    I take the pumpkin soup -> I'd say this is wrong.

    I like pumpkin soup -> my answer would be "that's nice, now what would you like to eat?"
    #1Authorbevalisch04 May 09, 14:01
    Comment
    "I'd have a hamburger" is correct English, but you can't say it when ordering at a restaurant. An example might be "If someone offered me a hamburger or an apple, I'd have a hamburger".

    "I take the pumpkin soup" is also not used when ordering, but in sentences like "Whenever I go to Joe's Café, I take the pumpkin soup".

    "I like the pumpkin soup" is also not used when ordering, but to say what you like: "Which soup do you think is good? / I like the pumpkin soup."
    #2Author CM2DD (236324) 04 May 09, 14:02
    Comment
    thanks to you all

    @CM2DD => the differences in context was good help (that was my feeling but non native feelings are not always correct)
    #3AuthorMariam.de04 May 09, 14:08
    Comment
    "I'd like the pumpkin soup" would be the correct answer in a restaurant if it was the answer to the waitress' question "What would you like?".
    #4Authorneilo04 May 09, 14:18
    Comment
    Slightly off topic.....

    Das Thema erinnert mich an eine Szene aus Pink Panther "I would like to buy a hamburger"... lol
    #5AuthorFrenchy04 May 09, 15:14
    Comment
    Whenever I go to Joe's Café, I take the pumpkin soup

    I never even thought of it that way.
    OK, so not always wrong then.
    #6Authorbevalisch04 May 09, 15:22
    Comment
    wie bestelle ich dann korrekt, wenn ich nicht gefragt werde, was ich haben mag z.b. bei McDonalds. Kassiererin fragt "Next please". Was sag ich dann?
    #7AuthorYQE6XF26 May 09, 05:07
    Comment
    *schubs*
    #8Authordanke26 May 09, 09:19
    Comment
    you say to the poor waif behind the counter at McD: I am your knight in shining armour, and I will take you away from this life of drudgery. Just jump on my mighty horse and we will ride off into the sunset to live happily ever after.

    If you're not up to this, "two large fries and a coke, please".
    #9Authorspinatwachtel26 May 09, 09:29
    Comment
    The German style: "I get the pumpkin soup!"
    #10AuthorThe hun26 May 09, 10:37
    Comment
    No!

    The REAL German style: "I become the pumpkin soup!"

    ;-)

    #11AuthorPixel26 May 09, 10:50
    Comment
    Und wenn der Kellner die verschiedenen Gerichte an den Tisch bringt, hilft ihm der höfliche Deutsche auf die Sprünge: "I am the pumpkin soup, and my wife is the chicken." :D
    #12AuthorJuli26 May 09, 10:55
    Comment
    was nun. "two large fries and a coke, please" oder "i get two large fries and a coke, please"?
    #13Author6R9ZQZ26 May 09, 21:20
    Comment
    Forget "I get two large fries..." immediately, the first one is correct (unless you are a knoght in shining armour); the second is a translation of what many Germans use to say ("ich bekomme...").

    But don't forget to enter your nick in the nick-field and the code in the code-field next time. That'll make it easier for everybody...;-)
    #14AuthorsebastianW (unpl.)26 May 09, 21:28
    Comment
    ...meaning "knight", of course (sorry, spinatwachtel). Good noght, everybody...
    #15AuthorsW26 May 09, 21:29
    Comment
    From more polite to less polite:

    May I please have...

    I would like...

    I'd like...

    Can I get... (common, but not strictly speaking correct)

    I'll take...

    #16Author Amy-MiMi (236989) 26 May 09, 21:43
     
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  •  
  
 
 
 
 
 ­ automatisch zu ­ ­ umgewandelt