اللغة الإنجليزية — Making Requests and Offers: Can, Could, Will, Would — 1ثانوي — شعبة آداب — Algerian Curriculum

Making Requests and Offers: Can, Could, Will, Would

Politeness is important in English. Different modals are used to make requests and offers with varying degrees of formality.

Making requests

Can you…? (informal): Can you help me? Could you…? (more polite): Could you open the door? Will you…? (direct): Will you pass the salt? Would you…? (very polite): Would you mind closing the window? May I…? (formal): May I borrow your pen?

Making offers

Can I…? Can I help you? Shall I…? Shall I open the window? Would you like…? Would you like some tea? Let me… Let me carry your bag.

Responding to requests

Positive: Yes, certainly. Of course. Sure. No problem. Negative: I’m sorry, but… I’m afraid I can’t.

Exercises

1. Make a polite request: Ask someone to close the door.

2. Complete: ___ you like some coffee? ___ I help you?

See also Modals: Can, Must, Should and The Imperative.