unr 36 Can / Could / Would you...? etc. (Requests, offers, permission and invitations) Acking people toda things Irequeste ‘We often use can or could to ask people to do things: (Cai oper hed pest ‘© Can you wait a momen, please? or mee ‘Could you watt a moment please? = \ Ce ae [9.2 oa cals me b MRS) Note that we say ‘Do you think (you) coul..? (not sally ‘© Do you think you could lend me some t roney until nee we {Would you please be quiet I'm trying co concentrate. ‘Asking for things ‘To ask for something we use Gan thave..2 or Could Ihave. 1 finw shop) Cay Thave hese yostcatd, please? ‘May Thave..?isalo possible (bat less usual) f@ May Thave these postr, please? ‘Asking for and ging permission “To uk for permision to do sumeshing we use cam, could ut may {or the poms) Hello, cam fspesh to Tomy plese? 1 'Chald Fone your phone?” "Yes, af conn” ‘¢ Do you tink I could borrow yo bike? ‘8 'May Tome in? "Yes, please do.” To give permission, we use ean of may. ‘Howecan use the pone. or You may use the phone May is formal end leas usual than can or could Offering to do tines To offer to do something we sometimes use Can. “Can I get you a Cup of coflee?” "Yes, that would be very nice” "Can rhetp your’ No, i all ght can manage.” ‘You can also use Il. to otter rode tings (ce Unit 21C): 1 You look sired. 1M get you a cup of cote. Offoring amd inviting “To offeror invite we use Would vou ike..? Ino ‘do vou ke’ ‘¢ ‘Would youlike a cup of coffee?” “Yes, pleas.” 1 “Would you like to come to dinner tomorrow evening?” “Yen Pd love 0." Pike. isa polite way of saying what you want: f@ [ata tourist mjormation ofc V4 tke some wtoemanion abour hotels, pease 1 ina abu Padlike way on this ache, plese EXERCISES 36 Read the stuatons and waite questions beginning Can... 0r Could. 1 You're carying a lor of things. You can’t open the door yourself. There's a man standing near the doa. Yrs say w held ye pe He shet Pleae. 2 You phone Ann bos somebody dee answers A isn't here. You w het. You say: 53 Youare a rourint. You want ro goto the station but you don't know where its. You ask at your horl, You say: 4 You aren a clothes stop. You se some trousers you like and you want to try them on. YoU sy the shop aeteN en - leave 2 mesage foe “Yeu say Joh Read the situations and write questions beginning Do you tink. 1 You wane to borrow your friend’ camera. What do you say to him? Do you tink.) wld berm your eae 3 You'e writen 2 leer in English, Before you send it you want an English friend to check it ‘What do you ask him? - ~ 4 You wane to leave work early because you have somethings to do, What do you ak your boss _ Whar do you cay to her? 6 You are phoning the owner of ala which was advertised in 8 newspaper. You ate interested in the lat and you want ro come and see i today. What do you say tothe owner? What would you sy thee citmatona? John has come to sce you in your flat. You offer im something 0 cat. rors No, thank vou. Pm not hungry. ‘You nea! ep to change the film in yous camera, You ask Ann. ‘YoU: Ann, I don't know how wo change the fil. oe ‘nos Sore. Res easy, Al you have t0 Go is this You're on a wan, The woman next to you bas finished reading hee newspapers Now you want w hove 2 look: 2 it. You ad hr, Yor Fxome me, WOMAN: Yes, of couse ve fished with it 4 You're on aus. You have 2 eat bat an elderly man is standing, You oer him your se ans Oh, that very hind of yu. Thank you very much ‘You're the passenger in 2 car. Your fiend i ving very fa Yo your Yan'ee making me very ner Davise Ob, Fin soe. dda’ reaie Twas eoine so fast ‘You've finished your mel ina restaurant snd now you want the bill. You ak the waiter: ‘wavine: Right get ie for you now: A fiend of youts is ntscsted in wucof pou books. You vite ‘runt> This hook Tooke very inerestng YOU: Yes it's very good. boas it