Hi girls.

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? ...................................................................................................................