Back to Situations

Asking for Permission to Pet

You approach the pet owner and respectfully ask if it's okay to pet their animal. This is a crucial step for safety and politeness.

Dialogue

Listen and follow along with the conversation

1
Sarah (Female)
Oh, what a beautiful dog! What's their name?
2
James (Male)
Thanks! This is Buddy. He's a Golden Retriever.
3
Sarah (Female)
Buddy is so cute! Is it okay if I pet him?
4
James (Male)
Yes, of course! He's very friendly.
5
Sarah (Female)
Great! Hi, Buddy! You're such a good boy.
6
James (Male)
He loves getting attention.

Vocabulary

Essential words and phrases from the dialogue

beautiful

An adjective used to describe something very attractive or pleasing, like a pet. It's a polite way to give a compliment.

cute

An adjective meaning adorable or charming, often used for animals or babies. It's casual and friendly in everyday talk.

pet

As a verb, it means to gently touch or stroke an animal to show affection. Always ask permission first for politeness.

friendly

An adjective describing someone or something that is kind and easy to get along with, like a well-behaved pet.

attention

A noun meaning focus or notice from others. Pets often enjoy it, like being petted or played with.

Key Sentences

Important phrases to remember and practice

Oh, what a beautiful dog! What's their name?

This is a friendly way to start a conversation by complimenting the pet and asking for its name. Use 'their' for gender-neutral politeness. It's useful for breaking the ice when meeting someone with a pet.

Buddy is so cute! Is it okay if I pet him?

Here, 'so cute' adds emphasis to the compliment, and 'Is it okay if...' is a polite way to ask permission. This sentence shows how to request to touch a pet safely and respectfully.

Yes, of course! He's very friendly.

This is a positive response giving permission. 'Of course' makes it enthusiastic. Use this to agree politely and add info about the pet's personality.

Great! Hi, Buddy! You're such a good boy.

'Great!' shows excitement, and 'You're such a good boy' is a common phrase to praise a male dog. It's affectionate and helps build a fun interaction with the pet.

He loves getting attention.

This uses present simple tense to describe a habit. 'Loves getting' shows enjoyment of an action. Say this to explain why the pet behaves a certain way, making conversation flow.