UNIT 36. Can/Could/Would you ...? etc

(Requests, offers, permission and invitations)

A. Asking people to do things (requests)

We often use can or could to ask people to do things:

* Can you wait a moment, please? or Could you wait a moment, please?

* Liz, can you do me a favour?

* Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the airport?

* I wonder if you could help me.

Note that we say 'Do you think (you) could...? (not usually 4can'):

* Do you think you could lend me some money until next week?

We also use will and would to ask people to do things (but can/could are more usual):

* Liz, will you do me a favour?

* Would you please be quiet? I'm trying to concentrate.

B. Asking for things

To ask for something we use Can I have...? or Could I have...?:

* (in a shop) Can I have these postcards, please?

* (during a meal) Could I have the salt, please?

May I have...? is also possible (but less usual):

* May I have these postcards, please?

C. Asking for and giving permission

To ask for permission to do something, we use can, could or may:

* (on the phone) Hello, can I speak to Tom, please?

* 'Could I use your phone?' 'Yes, of course.'

* Do you think I could borrow your bike?

* 'May I come in?' 'Yes, please do.'

To give permission, we use can or may.

* You can use the phone. or You may use the phone.

May is formal and less usual than can or could.

D. Offering to do things To offer to do something, we sometimes use Can I...?:

* 'Can I get you a cup of coffee?' 'Yes, that would be very nice.'

* 'Can I help you?' 'No, it's all right. I can manage.'

You can also use I'll... to offer to do things (see Unit 21C):

* You look tired. I'll get you a cup of coffee.

E. Offering and inviting

To offer or to invite we use Would you like...? (not do you like)

* 'Would you like a cup of coffee?' 'Yes, please.'

* 'Would you like to come to dinner tomorrow evening?' 'Yes, I'd love to.'

I'd like... is a polite way of saying what you want:

* (at a tourist information office) I'd like some information about hotels, please.

* (in a shop) I'd like to try on this jacket, please.

EXERCISES

Read the situations and write questions beginning Can... or Could...

1. You're carrying a lot of things. You can't open the door yourself. There's a man standing near the door. You say to him: _Could you open the door, please?_

2. You phone Ann but somebody else answers. Ann isn't there. You want to leave a message for her. You say: ---

3. You are a tourist. You want to go to the station but you don't know where it is. You ask at your hotel. You say: ---

4. You are in a clothes shop. You see some trousers you like and you want to try them on. You say to the shop assistant: ---

5. You have a car. You have to go to the same place as John, who hasn't got a car. You want to give him a lift. You say to John: ---

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