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Modal Verbs for Permission, Requests and Offers (2)

The document explains the use of modal verbs 'can', 'could', and 'may' for asking permission, making requests, and offering help. 'Can' is informal, 'could' is more polite, and 'may' is the most formal but less commonly used. It also outlines how to give permission and respond to requests using these modal verbs.

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Yan Monysopheaknit Monyoudom
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5 views

Modal Verbs for Permission, Requests and Offers (2)

The document explains the use of modal verbs 'can', 'could', and 'may' for asking permission, making requests, and offering help. 'Can' is informal, 'could' is more polite, and 'may' is the most formal but less commonly used. It also outlines how to give permission and respond to requests using these modal verbs.

Uploaded by

Yan Monysopheaknit Monyoudom
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Table Of Contents:

Asking for permission


Informal
Polite
Request
Giving permission
Offering help

PDF Version
Modal verbs ‘can’, ‘could’ and ‘may’ are used to politely ask for permission, to make a
request, and to offer help to someone.

via https://blog.off2class.com/teaching-can-and-could/

Asking for permission


Unlike statements, when asking for permission or making a request, we use reverse order ,
i.e. the modal verb goes before the subject:

Can / Could / May + subject + the verb

Informal

We often use the modal verb ‘can’ to ask for permission or to make a request:

Can I have some cookies? – Yes, you can.


Can I borrow your pen, please? – Sure!
Can I use your bathroom? – Of course!

‘Can‘ is the least formal of these verbs. We use it when we are asking a friend or someone
we know for something in an informal situation; or if we are asking someone we don’t know
for something which is small or unimportant. For example:

Can I open the window?

GrammarTOP.com
Polite

— ‘Could‘ is a little more polite than ‘can’, so we can use it in more formal situations, like
talking to your boss or a stranger, or to ask for something more important:

Excuse me, could I sit here, please? – I’m sorry, but you can’t. This seat is taken.
Could I have your attention, sir? – Sure.
Could you tell me the way to the town center, please? – Of course, it’s straight ahead.

— ‘May‘ is similar to ‘could’ but it is even more polite, and also a little old-fashioned, so it is
not used as often.

May I make an appointment for Tuesday? – Yes, you may.


May I begin? – Of course.
May I have a glass of water? – Sure, here you are.

Note: Like in examples above, we can give someone permission with the words ‘can’ or
‘may’, or we can say ‘yes’, ‘of course’ or ‘sure.’

Request
We can use the verbs ‘can‘ and ‘could‘ to ask for something.

Like with asking permission, the verb ‘can‘ is used in more informal situations, while ‘could‘
and ‘may‘ are suitable for polite requests.

Can you help me lift this box?


Could I please use your bathroom?
May I use your phone?

GrammarTOP.com
Giving permission
We can use modal verbs ‘can’ and ‘may’ (but NOT ‘could‘) to give permission or say that
someone has permission. The difference between them is the same as in previous examples:
‘may‘ is a more formal and polite way of saying that, while ‘can‘ is used in formal situations.

You can come with us.


Students can sit anywhere.
You may go home now, if you like.
Students may travel free.

To give permission, we can say something like ‘Yes, you can’ or ‘Yes, of course / Yes, no
problem.’ ‘Yes, you may’ is very formal and not used very often.

To refuse permission responses include ‘No, sorry, you can’t’ and ‘I’m afraid not’.
Again, using may not is very formal and a little old-fashioned, so ‘No, you may not’ is quite
unusual.

Offering help
‘Can’ and ‘may’ can also be used to offer help. ‘May’ is used in more formal situations:

Can I help you carry those bags? – Yes, please.


Can I get you a drink? – No, thank you.
May I take your coat? – Of course.

Sometimes we can use ‘shall’ to see if someone wants you to do something. This verb is not
typical for US English:

That backpack looks heavy. Shall I carry it for you? (Do you want me to?)
Yes, please.

Shall I open the window? (Do you want me to?)

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Good idea, it’s too hot in here.

Let’s summarize:

Watch this short video from American English to see how the verbs ‘can’, ‘may’ and ‘could’
can be used to ask and give permission:

See also:

Modal Verbs: Overview

GrammarTOP.com
Modal Verbs for Possibility

Modal Verbs for Ability

GrammarTOP.com

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