CAN COULD MAY AND WOULD

Hi girls.

Remember you have an exam about CAN, COULD, MAY AND WOULD: requests, permission, offers and invitations,  for next class. Study hard.

You have to print  the following text for next class. This is the grammar topic and the exercises.

CAN, COULD, MAY AND WOULD: requests, permission, offers and invitations

a)      Asking people to do things (requests)

We often use can or would when we ask someone to do something:

-Can you wait a moment, please?

-Ann, can you do me a favour?

-Excuse me. Could you tell me how to get to the station?

To ask for something  you can say  Can I have…?/ Could I have…?May I have…?

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

-(at table) Could I have the salt, please?

b)      Asking for and giving permission

-We often use CAN,COULD or MAY to ask permission to do something:

-(on the telephone) Hello, Can I speak to Tom, please?

-Could I use your telephone? Yes, of course.

-Do you think I could borrow your bicycle? Yes, help yourself.

-May I come in? Yes, please do.

To give permission, we use CAN or MAY (but not COULD)

-You can (or may) smoke if you like.

Use CAN/CANT to talk about what is already allowed or not allowed:

-You can drive for a year in Britian with an international licence.

- If  you are under 17, you cant drive a car in Britian.

c)      We sometimes use CAN when we offer to do things:

-Can I get you a cup of coffee?  That is very nice of you  

-(in a shop) Can I help you, madam?. No thanks.

d)     For offering and inviting we use WOULD YOU LIKE…?(not do you like)

-Would you like a cup of coffee? (not do you like)

-Would you like to come to the cinema?

                                                 

EXERCISES

1 Read the situation and write what you would say. Use the words given in brackets.

Example: you’ve got a pound note but you need some change. You ask somebody to help you. (Can you…?) …can you change a pound?

1.     The teacher is talking at low tone and you can’t listen to him . How do you ask him politely to speak louder? (Do you think you…?)……………………..

…………………………………………………………………………………………...

     2.  You are telephoning the owner of a Motor-cycle which was advertised in       a   newspaper. You are interested in it and you want to come and see it today. (Do you thing I…?)……………………………………………………………………

3.You have a book  and you want to lend it to a friend. What do you say? (Can I…?) …………………………………………………………………………………

4. You have to go to  the Coltejer building but you don’t know how to get there. You ask a passer-by. (Can you…?) ….……….………………………………………………………………………

2. This time you have to decide how to say what you want to say.

Example: you have to carry some heavy boxes upstairs. Ask someone to help you.

DOU YOU THINK YOU COULD GIVE ME A HAND WITH THESE  BOXES?

1. A friend has just come to see you in you flat. Offer him something to drink-……………………………………………………………………………..
2. You want your friend to show you how to change the film in your camera. What do you say to him/her.?  ……………………………………………………………………………… 
3. You’re on a train. The woman next to you has finished reading her newspaper. No you want have a look at it. What do you say? ……………………………………………………………………………….
4. You need a match to light your cigarette.  You haven’t got any but the man sitting next to you has some. What do you ask him? ...................................................................................................................