Unit 37. Can / Could / Would you ... ? etc. (Requests, offers, permission and invitations).

Unit 37; Part A

Asking people to do things (requests)
37.1.jpg

We use can or could to ask people to do things:
•    Can you wait a moment, please?
or 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):
•    Do you think you could lend me some money until next week?

We also use will and would to ask people to do things (but can / could are more usual):
•    Liz, will you do me a favour?
•    Would you please be quiet? I'm trying to concentrate.

Unit 37; Part 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?

Unit 37; Part C

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.'

Unit 37; Part D

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.'

Unit 37; Part E

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.

Exercises

1 Read the situations and write questions.

Read the situations and write questions beginning Can ... or Could ... .

1    You're carrying a lot of things. You can't open the door yourself. There's a man standing near the door.
      You say to him: Could you open the door, please?
2    You phone Sue, but somebody else answers. Sue isn't there. You want to leave a message for her.
      You say: ______________________________
3    You're a tourist. You want to go to the station, but you don't know how to get there.
You ask at your hotel: ______________________________
4    You are in a clothes shop. You see some trousers you like and you want to try them on.
      You say to the shop assistant: ______________________________
5    You have a car. You have to go the same way as Steve, who is on foot. You offer him a lift.
      You say to him: ______________________________

2 Read the situation and write a question using the words.

Read the situation and write a question using the word in brackets.

1    You want to borrow your friend's camera. What do you say to him?
      (think)     Do you think I could borrow your camera?
2    You are at a friend's house and you want to use her phone. What do you say?
      (all right)     Is it all right if I use your phone?
3    You've written a letter in English. Before you send it, you want a friend to check it for you. What do you ask?
      (think) _________________________________
4    You want to leave work early. What do you ask your boss?
      (mind) _________________________________
5    The woman in the next room is playing music. It's very loud. You want her to turn it down. What do you say to her?
      (think) _________________________________
6    You're on a train. The window is open and you're feeling cold.You'd like to close it, but first you ask the woman next to you.
      (OK) _________________________________
7    You're still on the train. The woman next to you has finishedreading her newspaper, and you'd like to have a look at it. You ask her.
      (think) _________________________________

3 What would you say in these situations?

What would you say in these situations?

1    Paul has come to see you in your flat. You offer him something to eat.
      You: Would you like something to eat?
      Paul: No, thank you. I've just eaten.
2    You need help to change the film in your camera. You ask Kate.
      You: I don't know how to change the film. ___________________________?
      Kate: Sure. It's easy. All you have to do is this.
3    You're on a bus. You have a seat, but an elderly man is standing. You offer him your seat.
      You: ___________________________?
      Man: Oh, that's very kind of you. Thank you very much.
4    You're the passenger in a car. Your friend is driving very fast. You ask her to slow down.
      You: You're making me very nervous. ___________________________?
      Driver: Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't realise I was going so fast.
5    You've finished your meal in a restaurant and now you want the bill. You ask the waiter:
      You: ___________________________?
      Waiter: Right. I'll get it for you now.
6    A friend of yours is interested in one of your books. You invite him to borrow it.
      Friend: This looks very interesting.
      You: Yes, it's a good book. ___________________________?

Unit 36 Unit 37 Unit 38

Испания занимает одно из ведущих мест в Европе по качеству жизни. Аренда недвижимости в Испании невозможна без сайта www.globustv.net, предлагающего лучшие условия.