One More, Two More, No More

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One More, Two More, No More

In this lesson, you can ask for one more or two more items.

Created by , British English teacher.

I’m studying:

Try the activities, then check your answers.

Choose a short recording.

Before you start

You have two cups and need three. Ask for another cup with more.

See one possible response

One more cup, please.

You help prepare drinks and seats for a small evening class.

What you will practise
  • Ask for one more or two more items.
  • Ask for more food or drink.
  • Say yes or no to an extra amount.

Say your answer. Then check the model. Your answer can be different if it fits the task.

Add a number

Put the number before more and the noun after it: one more chair, two more cups. More means extra. If you have three cups and ask for two more, you want two extra cups, not two cups in total.

We need one more chair.

Please bring two more cups.

Exactly three ceramic cups are already on a small serving tray. The woman asks Denis for two additional cups, holding up two fingers; he brings exactly two separate cups toward the tray. Natural practical expressions, keep the five cups visually distinct.
We have three cups and need two more.The requested two are added to the three already available.

More without a number

Use more with a plural noun or a noun such as water: more plates, more water. You do not need to give an exact amount. For a polite request, say Can we have more water, please?

Can we have more paper, please?

We need more pens for the class.

No more and short answers

No more means no extra quantity is wanted or available in the situation. Give a clear answer: No more coffee, thank you. When the item is already clear, you can omit it: Two more, please.

One more, please.

No more tea for me, thank you.

The woman politely presents a partly filled clear water glass while Denis holds a water jug ready to pour. Her request concerns an additional amount of water, without an exact measure. Include only the glass and jug as key props.
Can we have more water, please?More water asks for an extra amount without an exact measure.

Guided practice

Say or write your answer first. Then compare the meaning and grammar with the model.

1. We need two ___ chairs.

Compare a model and explanation

more

Put more after the number and before the noun.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

2. Please bring cups three more.

Compare a model and explanation

Please bring three more cups.

The order is number + more + noun.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

3. You have two plates. You get one more. How many now?

Compare a model and explanation

Three plates.

One more adds one to the two already there.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

4. You want extra coffee. Ask politely without a number.

Compare a model and explanation

Can I have more coffee, please?

More coffee requests an extra amount.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

5. one more chair or one more chairs?

Compare a model and explanation

One more chair.

One takes the singular noun.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

6. More juice? You do not want any extra.

Compare a model and explanation

No more juice, thank you.

This politely declines an addition.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

7. Three more pens, please. Pens are already clear.

Compare a model and explanation

Three more, please.

Omit the understood noun, not more.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

8. Six learners are coming. You have four notebooks and enough water. Ask for what you need and decline extra water.

Compare a model and explanation

We need two more notebooks. No more water, thank you.

The extra number is two; water needs no addition.

Accept a grammatical alternative that satisfies the stated prompt and this item’s explanation; the model is not an exhaustive exact-string key.

A short conversation

Listen to the exchange, then take one role. The speaker labels identify roles; do not narrate them.

Open the conversation transcript

Helper: We have five cups. Is that enough?

Teacher: There are seven people. We need two more cups.

Helper: Do we need more milk too?

Teacher: No more milk, thanks, but one more spoon, please.

Listening checks

Listen to each extract, then choose the best answer. These three questions have their own score.

1. How many extra chairs are requested?
Read the listening transcript

We have six chairs. Please bring two more chairs.

2. What does the speaker want more of?
Read the listening transcript

Can I have more water, please? No more coffee for me.

3. How many additional tickets does the person want?
Read the listening transcript

How many extra tickets? Just one more, please.

Answer key with explanations

  1. How many extra chairs are requested?

    Two.: Two more means two extra.

    Compare all choices
    • Eight.: Eight would be the total after the addition.
    • Two.: Two more means two extra.
    • Six.: Six is the number already there.

  2. What does the speaker want more of?

    Water.: More water is requested.

    Compare all choices
    • Coffee.: The speaker explicitly declines extra coffee.
    • Both drinks.: Only water is requested.
    • Water.: More water is requested.

  3. How many additional tickets does the person want?

    One.: One more gives the additional number.

    Compare all choices
    • One.: One more gives the additional number.
    • All the tickets.: No request for all tickets is made.
    • None.: The person does ask for an extra ticket.

Mastery quiz

Choose the best answer for each situation. The score is out of eight.

1. Request two extra chairs. Choose the correct quantity order.
2. Choose the singular phrase.
3. You have three pens and receive two more. How many now?
4. Choose a request for extra water.
5. You do not want extra tea. What do you say?
6. The question is How many more plates? Choose a short answer for three extra.
7. Which sentence asks for an extra amount without a number?
8. There are eight guests and six seats. Choose the request.
Answer key with explanations

  1. Request two extra chairs. Choose the correct quantity order.

    two more chairs: Number comes before more and the noun follows.

    Compare all choices
    • two more chairs: Number comes before more and the noun follows.
    • chairs two more: The noun should follow two more.
    • more two chairs: This is not the target quantity order.

  2. Choose the singular phrase.

    one more cup: One takes a singular cup.

    Compare all choices
    • one more cups: Cups is plural after one.
    • one more cup: One takes a singular cup.
    • one cups more: Both noun number and word order are wrong.

  3. You have three pens and receive two more. How many now?

    Five.: Three plus two gives five.

    Compare all choices
    • Three.: That ignores the two extra pens.
    • Two.: Two is only the added quantity.
    • Five.: Three plus two gives five.

  4. Choose a request for extra water.

    Can I have more water, please?: More works with uncountable water.

    Compare all choices
    • Can I have more water, please?: More works with uncountable water.
    • Can I have two more waters litres?: The unit phrase is not correctly formed.
    • Can I have water more the?: The word order is incorrect.

  5. You do not want extra tea. What do you say?

    No more tea, thank you.: This declines an addition.

    Compare all choices
    • More tea, please.: This also asks for extra tea.
    • No more tea, thank you.: This declines an addition.
    • One more tea, please.: This requests an additional serving.

  6. The question is How many more plates? Choose a short answer for three extra.

    Three more, please.: The noun plates can be understood.

    Compare all choices
    • More three, please.: The number belongs before more.
    • Three plates before.: This does not answer the quantity question.
    • Three more, please.: The noun plates can be understood.

  7. Which sentence asks for an extra amount without a number?

    We need more paper.: No exact quantity is given.

    Compare all choices
    • We need more paper.: No exact quantity is given.
    • We have enough paper.: This states sufficiency rather than asking for more.
    • We need two more sheets.: Two states an exact added number.

  8. There are eight guests and six seats. Choose the request.

    We need two more seats.: Two additional seats make eight.

    Compare all choices
    • We need eight more seats.: That would add eight rather than cover the two-seat gap.
    • We need two more seats.: Two additional seats make eight.
    • We need no more seats.: Six seats do not cover the eight guests.

Use it in your own words

Order extras

Ask for three extra items at a café. Use one more, two more and more without a number.

Reveal a possible response

One more sandwich, please. Two more cups, please. Can we have more water?

  • Use number + more + noun
  • Match singular and plural
  • Use one amount without a number

Choose other familiar items.

Enough for everyone

Six people need a pen each. You have four pens. Say what you need, then politely decline extra paper.

Reveal a possible response

We need two more pens. No more paper, thank you.

  • Ask for the extra quantity only
  • Decline an unnecessary addition

You can change the group size and supplies.

Put it all together

Help a friend prepare a picnic. There are five people, three plates and enough bread. Ask for the missing plates and some extra fruit; say you do not need extra bread.

Reveal a possible response

We need two more plates. Can we have more fruit? No more bread, thank you.

  • Work out one extra quantity
  • Request an uncountable amount
  • Stop one addition

Other sensible picnic supplies are possible.

Take it with you

Put a number before more. Use more with amounts too. No more means you do not want an extra amount.