Language for asking permission

Question head subject verb phrase with base infinitive

Can I borrow your pen?
Could he use your phone charger?
she take the day off tomorrow?
they ask you something?
have one of your sandwiches?

Language for asking permission 2

Question head subject verb phrase with present simple

Would it be OK I borrow/s your pen?
if he use/s your phone charger?
Would it be she take/s the day off tomorrow?
alright if they ask/s you to help me?
have/has one of your sandwiches?

Language for asking permission 3

Question head subject verb phrase with past subjunctive

Would it be OK I borrowed your pen?
if he used your phone charger?
Would it be she took the day off tomorrow?
alright if they asked you to help me?
had one of your sandwiches?

A word about politeness

When asking for permission to do something we usually use the word 'please' to make
the request sound more polite. It's not grammatically necessary to use 'please' but you
may sound rude if you don't use it. 'Please' can be put in different places in the sentence;
at the start, end or before the verb:

Please can I borrow your pen?

Can I please borrow your pen?
Can I borrow your pen, please?
A more important way of showing politeness is the tone of voice and intonation. Even if
you use the word 'please' you can sound rude if your pronunciation is not correct.
Generally the longer an expression is the more formal and polite it sounds. However
remember that pronunciation is always very important in a spoken request for
permission.

Conversations
Conversation 1 Conversation 2
John and Sandra are a couple on holiday in Paul needs to ask his boss for permission
Paris and John goes up to a stranger: to leave work early the next day:

John : ‘Excuse me, sorry to bother Paul : ‘Mr Clark.’

you, Mr Clark : ‘Hi Paul, is everything OK?’
would you mind taking our Paul : ‘Yes thanks. It’s just, do you
picture?’ mind if
Stranger : ‘No not at all. Where would you I leave early tomorrow? I
like to need to
stand?’ take my sister to the airport.’
Sandra : ‘Here’s fine. In front of the Eifel Mr Clark : ‘No, of course not. That’s fine.
Tower.’ Paul : ‘Thanks.’
Stranger : ‘Great, say cheese.’

Conversation 3 Conversation 4
Harry needs to make a call but his phone Pat and Anne are classmates. Pat’s pen
battery is flat. He’s with his friend Bill. runs out:

Harry : ‘Oh no, my phone’s dead. Is it Pat : ‘My pen’s run out. Could I borrow
OK if I one
use yours? To phone Carol.’ of yours?’
Bill : ‘Yeah sure. Go ahead. How are Anne : ‘Sure. Here you are.’
you Pat :‘Thanks.’
and Carol getting on?’
Harry : ‘Cheers. Not bad, not bad at
all.’