☰

1) You want to borrow my bicycle. (Can)

your bicycle, please?

2) You want to look at my photos. (Could)

at your photos, please?

3) You offer to get me something to eat. (Can)

something to eat?

4) You want to play with my Nintendo. (Can)

with your Nintendo, please?

5) You want to drive my new car. (May)

your new car, please?

6) You offer to get me some more wine. (Could)

some more wine?

7) You want to come with me to the cinema. (Can)

with you to the cinema, please?

8) You and Steve want to watch my television this evening. (May)

your television this evening, please?

9) You offer to buy me a drink. (Can)

a drink?

10) You offer to give me a lift. (Could)

a lift?

 

If we are offering something (questions: 3, 6, 9 and 10), we do not usually use please. We often use may when we want to ask for something very special - like driving my new car!

 

1) Can I borrow your bicycle, please?

2) Could I look at your photos, please?

3) Can I get you something to eat?

4) Can I play with your Nintendo, please?

5) May I drive your new car, please?

6) Could I get you some more wine?

7) Can I go with you to the cinema, please? / Can I come with you to the cinema, please?

8) May we watch your television this evening, please? / May Mary and I watch your television this evening, please?

9) Can I buy you a drink?

10) Could I give you a lift?

 

Explanation of can, could, may with permission and offering...

Listen and read about modal auxiliaries used for polite language...

Index of English exercises... (return to same section)