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…?) …………………………………………………………………………………
- 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?
- A friend has just come to see you in you flat. Offer him something to drink-……………………………………………………………………………..
- You want your friend to show you how to change the film in your camera. What do you say to him/her.? ………………………………………………………………………………
- 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? ……………………………………………………………………………….
- 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? ...................................................................................................................
