Can I take your plate?

[Winwin2011]

1. If a waiter approaches the customer after he has finished eating.

Waiter: Can I take your plate?
Customer: Yes, you can take it.

Is it correct to use "take away'?

2. If a customer hasn't finished eating, the waiter wants to take away his plate.

Customer: Waiter, please don't take away my plate.

Is it correct to leave out "away'?

3. If we have finished eating, I ask our domestic help to take away our plates. Which of the following sentence is correct?

I. Please take the plates.
II. Please take away the plates.


Thanks.

[Rover_KE]

1. If a waiter approaches the customer after he has finished eating:

Waiter: Can I take your plate?
Customer: Yes, you can take it.

Is it correct to use "take away'? Yes — or just say 'Yes (you can)'.

2. If a customer hasn't finished eating and the waiter wants to take away his plate:

Customer: Waiter, please don't take away my plate.

Is it correct to leave out "away'? Yes.

3. If we have finished eating, I ask our domestic help to take away our plates. Which of the following sentence is correct?

I. Please take the plates.
II. Please take away the plates.

Rover

[emsr2d2]

If you're asked "Can I take your plate?" and you haven't finished eating, you can also say "No, I haven't finished [yet]".

[BobK]

...or whatever explanation is appropriate. For example, if there's a buffet, and the waiter - seeing your plate is empty - asks 'Can I take your plate', your response might be 'No thanks - I'm just thinking whether to go and get a refill'.

b

[emsr2d2]

At its simplest, if you're asked "Can/Shall I take your plate?", all you really have to say is "Yes please." or "No thanks".