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produce what can be described as a pre-request. We already noted one example in
discussing speech events earlier, at the end of Chapter 6. Another is presented as [13], along
with one analysis of the structure of this interaction.

[13] Her: Are you busy? (= pre-request)
Him: Not really. (= go ahead)
Her: Check over this memo. (= request)
Him: Okay. (= accept)
The advantage of the pre-request element is that it can be answered either with a 'go-ahead'
response, as in [13], or with a 'stop' response, as in [14].

[14] Him: Are you busy? (= pre-request)
Her: Oh, sorry. (=stop)
The response in [14] allows the speaker to avoid making a request that cannot be granted at
the time. Understanding that it is a response to a pre-request also allows us to interpret the
expres-sion 'sorry', not only as an apology about being busy, but also as an apology about
being unable to respond to the anticipated request.
There is, however, a general pattern of pre-requests actually being treated as requests and
being responded to, as in [15], with the (unstated, hoped for) action being performed.

[15] Her: Do you have a spare pen?
Him: Here, (hands over a pen)
This 'short-cut' process of going from pre-request to granting of request helps explain the literal
oddness of the common pattern in [І6].

[ 16] Her: Do you mind if I use your phone ?
Him: Yeah, sure.
As a literal response, 'Yeah' or 'Yeah, sure' would be the equi-valent of 'I do mind' and wouldn't
count as allowing use of the phone. However, these forms are normally interpreted as a posi-
tive response, not to the pre-request, but to the unstated request. Pre-sequences are also
commonly used in making invitations. As illustrated in [17], with a 'go ahead', and [І8], with a
'stop', inviters tend to ask a pre-invitation question and receivers tend to recognize their
function.

[17] Him: What are you doing this (=pre-invitation)
Friday?
Her: Hmm, nothing so far. (=go ahead)
Him: Come over for dinner. (=invitation)
Her: Oh, I'd like that. (=accept)

[І8] Him: Are you doing anything later? (= pre-invitation)
Her: Oh, yeah. Busy, busy, busy. (=stop)
Him: Oh, okay. (=stop)

Children often use pre-announcements to check if their parents are willing to pay attention, as
in example [19].