Modals to express requests: 

MAY     CAN   COULD   WILL  WOULD

Can you lend me $10?
Can I borrow your car?
Could you tell me where the train station is?
Could I have a cup of tea?
Will you turn off your mobile phone, please?
Would you open the door for me?

May I take your car, please?
 

Can & Could

Can and Could are modal verbs used to make requests. When making requests, can and could are both used to refer to present and future situations. Here is the structure:

Can/Could + Subject + Verb

Examples:

• Can you pass the salt please?

• Could you bring your book tomorrow?

Can and Could are used differently. Can is less polite than Could.

Can is used to make basic requests from a friend or co-worker. It is often used for small things.

• Can you pass the juice?

• Can you turn off the air conditioner?

Could is more polite than can, but has the same function:

• Could you pass the juice please?

• Could you help me with my homework Mr. Johnston?

Which one (can or could) should we use to ask for something in less formal situations? Which one is more polite?

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We use MAY  for  Formal polite request

 

Be careful with may. When making a request using may, only I can be the subject. If you are making a formal request, you would say,

May I speak to Mr. Smith, please?

What is the only subject that we can use with "may"?

WILL   WOULD

WILL and WOULD are used in the forms "Will you" and "Would you"

WILL is less polite, WOULD is more polite

What is the only subject that we can use with "will/would"? What is the difference between them?

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Typical responses to requests

If you want to respond to a request positively, use the following typical responses to requests.

Formal style: I'd be glad to. / I'd be happy to.

Less formal: Yes, of course. / Of course. / Certainly.

Informal: Sure. / No problem

If for some reason you want to respond to a request negatively, use the following typical responses.

Formal style: I'm afraid it's not possible. / I'm very sorry, but... / I'd like to, but.../ I`m afraid not/ I`m afraid I can`t

Less formal: Sorry. / Sorry, I can't.

EXAMPLES

Could you help me with this report? – Yes, of course. / Certainly.

Could I borrow your calculator for a minute? – Sure, here it is.

Could you lend me a hundred dollars? – I'm afraid it's not possible. / I'm very sorry, but I can't lend you a hundred dollars now.

Can I borrow your CD player? – Sorry, I need it today

Test yourself

https://onlinetestpad.com/hofdnn6mn3kxo

What is the only subject that we can use with "may"?

What are the modal verbs which are used with subject  "you"? What is the difference between them?

What is the structure of a request?

How do we call an "answer to a request"?

How to translate " Я був би щасливий це зробити"

"Боюсь, що це неможливо", " Я дуже вибачаюся, але я не можу"

- Можеш дати мені пораду? - Звичайно!

Принесеш мені хліба? -Без проблем!

-Можна мені поговорити з вашим  секретарем? Боюся, це неможливо

Чи не позичив би ти мені 20 гривень? - Я був би радий, але у мене є тільки 10

Чи не міг би ти сказати мені відповідь на це питання? - Боюсь, що я не можу тому , що я не знаю відповіді на це питання

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http://www.learnenglish-online.com/grammar/modals/tests/modalrequests.html

 

VOCABULARY

  Do me (us) a favour /ˈfeɪ.vər/- Зроби мені (нам) послугу

Take- брати

 pick up- забрати, підбирати

borrow /ˈbɒr.əʊ/ -to get or receive something from someone with the intention of giving it back after a period of time- позичати

lend- to give something to someone for a short period of time, expecting it to be given back- позичати

dry-cleaner`s- хімчистка

 make/ arrange an appointment  /əˈpɔɪnt.mənt/ with…- домовитися  про зустріч з

 cancel  /ˈkæn.səl/ - скасувати

   

Test yourself

https://onlinetestpad.com/hmct3tbhxughg

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https://quizlet.com/_8a9e36?x=1qqt&i=2ryl0e

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Home Assignment

Vocabulary+ grammar rules

WB tasks A,  p. 58 (WB), 4 p. 81 (SB)

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