37. Can/Could/Would you….? ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR IN USE FOR INTERMEDIATE

37. Can/Could/Would you….?

(Requests, offers, permission and invitations)

A	Asking people to do things (requests) We use can or could to ask people to do things: ·         Can you wait a moment, please? or Could you wait a moment, please? ·         Helen, can you do me a favour? ·         Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the airport? Note that we say Do you think you could ... ? (not can): ·         Do you think you could take me to the station? We also use will and would to ask people to do things (but can/could are more usual): ·         Helen, 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 ……? /Could I have ... ? or Can I get ... ?: ·         (in a shop) Can I have these postcards, please? Or Can I get these postcards, please? ·         (during a meal) Could I have the salt, please? May I have ... ? is also possible: ·         May I have these postcards, please?
C	Asking to do things To ask to do something, we use can, could or may: ·         (on the phone) Hello, can I speak to Steve, please? ·         'Could I use your phone?' 'Sure.' ·         Do you think I could borrow your bike? ·         'May I come in?' 'Yes, please do.' May is more formal than can or could. To ask to do something, you can also say Do you mind if I ...? or Is it all right /Is it OK if I ... ?: ·         'Do you mind if I use your phone?' 'Sure. Go ahead.' ·         'Is it all right if I come in?' 'Yes, of course.'
D	Offering to do things To offer to do something, we use Can I ... ?: ·         'Can I get you a cup of coffee?' 'That would be nice.' ·         'Can I help you?' 'No, it's all right. I can manage.'
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 eat with us tonight?' '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

37.1	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 Kate's office, but somebody else answers. Kate isn't there. You want to leave a message for her. You say: ____________________________________ 3 You're a tourist. You want to go to the station, but you don't know how to get there. You ask at your hotel: ________________________________ 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 the same way as Steve, who is on foot. You offer him a lift. You say to him:______________________________________________
37.2	Read the situation and write a question using the word in brackets. 1 You want to borrow your friend's bike. What do you say to him? (think) _____ Do you think I could borrow your bike?_____________ 2 You are staying at a friend's house and you would like to make some coffee. What do you say? (all right) ______Is it all right if I make some coffee?_____________ 3 You've filled in some forms in English. You want your friend to check them for you. What do you ask? (think)_______________________________________________ 4 You want to leave work early. What do you ask your boss? (mind) _______________________________________________ 5 The woman in the next room is playing music. It's very loud. You want her to turn it down. What do you say to her? (think) _______________________________________________ 6 You're on a train. The window is open and you're feeling cold. You'd like to close it, but first you ask the woman next to you. (OK) _________________________________________________ 7 You're still on the train. The woman next to you has finished reading her paper, and you'd like to have a look at it. You ask her. (think) _______________________________________________
37.3	What would you say in these situations? 1 Paul has come to see you in your flat. You offer him something to eat. YOU   : _____Would you like something to eat ?________________ PAUL : No, thank you. I've just eaten. 2 You need help to charge the battery in your camera. You ask Kate. YOU   : I don't know how to charge the battery______________________________? KATE : Sure. It's easy. All you have to do is this. 3 You're on a bus. You have a seat, but an elderly man is standing. You offer him your seat. YOU    : _______________________ ? MAN   : Oh, that's very kind of you. Thank you very much. 4 You're the passenger in a car. Your friend is driving very fast. You ask her to slow down. You           : You're making me very nervous. ________________________? DRIVER   : Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realise I was going so fast. 5 You've finished your meal in a restaurant and now you want the bill. You ask the waiter: YOU        : _________________________________? WAITER : Sure. I'll get it for you now. 6 A friend of yours is interested in one of your books. You invite him to borrow it. FRIEND     : This looks very interesting. You             : Yes, it's a good book.______________________________?

ANSWER KEY

37.1 2 Can/Could I leave a message (for her}? Or Can/Could you give her a message? 3 Can/Could you tell me how to get to the station? Or ... the way to the station? Or ... where the station is? 4 Can/ Could I try on these trousers? Or Can/Could I try these (trousers) on? 5 Can I give/offer you a lift? 37.2 3 Do you think you could check these forms (for me}? /... check them (for me)? 4 Do you mind if I leave work early? 5 Do you think you could turn the music down? /... turn it down? 6 Is it OK if I close the window? 7 Do you think I could have a look at your paper? I ... at your newspaper? 37.3 2 Can/Could/Would you show me? or Do you think you could show me? or ... do it for me? 3 Would you like to sit down? or Would you like a seat? or Can I offer you a seat? 4 Can/Could/Would you slow down? or Do you think you could ... ? 5 Can/Could/ May 1/we have the bill, please? or Do you think 1 /we could have ... ? 6 Would you like to borrow it ?