Can/could/would you ...etc?

(requests, offers, permission, and invitations)

A

Asking people to do things (requests)

Can or could to ask people to do things :

• Can you wait a minute, please? / Could you wait a minute, please?

• Liz, can you do me a favor?

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

• I wonder if you could you help me.

Note : Do you think you could…? (not usually can) :

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

Will and would to ask people to do things (but can / could are more usual) :

• Rebecca, will you do me a favor?

• Would you people 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 the salt, please?

C

Asking for and giving permission

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

• (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 car?

• “May I come in?” “Yes, please do.”

May is formal and less usual than can or could

D

Offering to do things

We use Can I …? Or May I …? When we offer to do things. (May is more formal)

• “Can I get you a cup of coffee?” “Yes, that would be very nice.”

• (in a store) “May I help you?” “No, thanks. I’m being helped.”

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 go to a party with us Saturday night?” “Yes, I would love to.”

I’d like… is a polite way of saying what you want :

• (at a tourist information office) “I would like some information about hotels, please.”

• (in a store) I’d like to try on this jacket, please.

#can #could #would #may #do