Definition
A prerequest is a presequence that prefigures a request, possibly by ascertaining the ability of the respondent to satisfy the coming request.
Examples
The first two turns of the following exchange are a prerequest:
- A: Do you have blackberry jam?
- B: Yes.
- A: Okay. Can I have half a pint then?
- B: Sure.
Sources 2
- Merritt 1976, 324
- Levinson 1983, 347