English Grtwwnir in Use was written as a self-study grammar book, hut teachers may also find it useful as additional course material in cases where further work on grammar is necessary. | Unit 37 A Can Could Would you . etc. Requests offers permission and invitations Asking people to do things requests We use can or could to ask people to do things or Can you wait a moment please Could you wait a moment please Liz can you do me a favour Excuse me could you tell me how to get to the airport Note that we say Do you think you could . not can O Do you think you could lend me some money until next week Could you open the door pleaseQ We also use will and would to ask people to do things but can could are more usual O Liz will you do me a favour Would you please be quiet I m trying to concentrate. B Asking for things To ask for something we use Can I have . or Could I have . in a shop Can I have these postcards please during a meal Could I have the salt please May I have . is also possible May I have these postcards please C D E Asking to do things To ask to do something we use can could or may on the phone Hello can I speak to Steve please Could I use your phone Yes of course. Do you think I could borrow your bike May I come in Yes please do. May is more formal than can or could. To ask to do something you can also say Do you mind if I . or Is it all right Is it OK if I . Do you mind if I use your phone Sure. Go ahead. Is it all right if I come in Yes of course. Offering to do things To offer to do something you can use Can I . Can I get you a cup of coffee That would be nice. Can I help you No it s all right. I can manage. Offering and inviting To offer or to invite we use Would you like . not Do you like Would you like a cup of coffee Yes please. Would you like to come to dinner tomorrow evening I d love to. I d like . is a polite way of saying what you want at a tourist information office I d like some information about hotels please. in a shop I d like to try on this jacket please. Can and could - Units 26-27 Mind -ing - Unit 53 Would like - Units 55A 58B Modal verbs can could will would etc. - Appendix 4 74 Exercises Unit 37 Read the situations
