REQUESTS

WOULD, COULD, CAN, MAY, MIGHT

Can I borrow your book?
A request is when you
ask for something.

Inform
Formal
al Could I
Can I borrow
borrow your book?
your book?
We are often We are usually
informal with formal everyone
family and else, like teachers,
Friends. doctors and people
we do not know
well.
What is Jack requesting?
B Can I have
Choose the best request another cookie?
for the picture.

A May I go to the
restroom?

C
Could I borrow
some money?
Polite requests with I
MODAL I VERB …?
Informal Can go to the park?

I
Formal Could leave early today?
Formal May take this newspaper?

Very Formal Might borrow some money?

Might is very formal. We don't use might often.

Make requests
1. I/today/go home/may/early
May I go home early today?

2. Your pencil/I/borrow/could

3. With my friends/to the cinema/go/I/can

4. I/may/pay/in cash/the pill

5. borrow/I/your car/tomorrow/can
Requests for permission
No
We use:

Yes Can I…?

Could I…?
May I…?

For permission.
Can I please go to the concert tomorrow night with my friends?
Can, could or may for requests
You are at the restaurant. Use these words:

Menu Manager Dessert list

6. You need a menu.

Can I have the menu? Or Could I have a menu?

7. You are not happy with the service.

8. You would like to order something sweet.

Can, could or may for requests
You are at the restaurant. Use these words:

Menu Manager Dessert list

9. You are thirsty.

10. You finished tour food and you want to pay.

11. You loved the meal and you want to come again next week.
Can, could or may for requests
Use these verbs in the situations below :

Take Invite Leave

12. _____________ take a photo of you.

13. ____________early today? I feel unwell.

14. _____________ my friend to your party.

Can, could or may for requests
Use these verbs in the situations below:

Go Borrow

15. _____________ to the cinema with Sally and Johann.

16. ____________$70? I will return it next week.

Make a request

17. You are in my apartment. We are good friends. You want

to use my phone
Can I use the phone?

18. You want to give me your homework tomorrow. I am

your teacher.
Make a request

19. You want to come into my office. I am your boos.

20. You are my friend. You want to borrow some

money.

21. You are in a restaurant. You need a chair for your

friend. There is an extra chair at my table.
Requests with you as the subject
What is Caitlyn requesting?

A Would B Will you

you open help me
the with
door? bags?

CCould you
pass the
pepper
and salt?
Polite requests with you
MODAL You VERB …?
Informal Can pass the butter?
Formal Could take my photo?
Formal Would
You turn off the television?

Very Formal Will lend me some

money?

Will you…? Is more common in British English.

Match the request to the response
Can I give you my home Sorry… but it’s at the
tomorrow? mechanics!

Could I borrow your car Sure, which film do you

tomorrow? want to see?

Of course… and do you

Would you open the door
want some help with your
for me?
bags?

Will you come to the No, you need to give it to

cinema with me? me now!
Match the request to the response
May I have a day off Again? I gave you $50 last
tomorrow? week!

Could I borrow some Well, I’m not sure. Did you

money? finish all your work?

Would you help me up the Sure. And can you pass me

stairs? a slice of bread?

Of course… but you can

Can you pass the butter?
also take the elevator.
Make a request with this words
22. you/would/the door/for me/open

23.drive/home/can/you/tonight/me

24.pass/me/will/the sugar/you

25.talk/would/you/more/quietly

26.the garbage/you/could/take out

Make a request-
can/may/could/Will/would
Bring Carry Take Watch

27. Mom…_______ I ________ television tonight? I finished my

homework.

28. ____ you _____ my bag for me please? It’s too heavy.

29. Dad? _____ you ______ me to football practice tonight?

30. ______ I please ______ my girlfriend to your party on

Saturday?
Make a request-
can/may/could/Will/would
Help Turn on Turn off Bring

31. I’m trying to study. ______ you please ______the music?

32. My leg is very sore so _______ you please _______ me up?

33. I can’t see anything. _______ you _______ the light?

34. The food was excellent. ________ you _______ us the bill?
Polite request with would you
mind?
Would you mind if I Would you mind
closed the window? closing the window ?

You are asking

You are asking
someone to do
permission
something
Asking permission
Would… Past simple …?
ate the last piece of cake
Would you used your phone?
borrowed your bicycle?
mind if… didn’t come tonight?

We use the past simple, but the meaning is for the present or future
Match the request to the response
Will you mind if you You can’t. We are too busy
opened the window? at the moment.

Would you mind if I took No, go ahead… it’s hot

the day off tomorrow? here.

Would you mind if I didn’t Don’t ask me! You need to

come to the cinema? ask Albert.

Would you mind if I Not at all. We can go next

borrowed Albert’s car? week.
Match the request to the response
Would you mind if I took
No, go ahead. It’s empty.
seat?

Would you mind if I Of course not. Do you like

borrowed a cup of sugar? it?

Of course, you can Betty.

Would you mind if I kept
Are you making cakes
your book one more week?
again?

Would you mind if I didn’t

What? No! It will be fine!
come to the party?
Asking to someone do something
What is Nancy asking?

AWould you B Would you

mind mind helping
carrying my me across the
bag? street?

C
Would you
mind coming
into my office?
Asking to someone do something
Would… Verb ing …?
helping me set the table?

Would you coming into my office?

cleaning up your desk?
mind finishing the report before
tomorrow?

Remember! Asking
permission:
Would Past simple …?
Would you mind if I used your bycicle
Match the request to the response
Would you mind opening Again? I washed the dishes
the window? last night.

Would you mind turning Of course not. It’s hot in

the music down? here?

Would you mind doing the Oh, sorry if it was too

dishes? loud.

Would you mind repeating I said “please do the

that? homework tonight”
Match the request to the response
Would you mind buying I can do that… but my
some milk? French isn’t very good.

Would you mind taking

the next street on the Rogerson St?
right ?

Would you mind opening Of course not. You have a

the door? lot of luggage!

Would you mind helping

No, I’ll get some. Do we
me with my French
need anything else?
homework?
Make requests with Would you mind
Would you mind + verb –ing or
Would you mind if I + past tense

35. You want your friend to help you.

36. You want to open the window.

37. You want your teacher to open the window.

38. You want to take the day off work tomorrow.

Make requests with Would you mind
Would you mind + verb –ing or
Would you mind if I + past tense

39. You want to leave work early today.

40. You want your teacher to repeat the instructions.

41. You want your children to set the table.

42. You want to borrow your mom’s car.

Change the sentences
Could I… ? May I …? Can I…?

43. Would you mind if I borrowed your computer?

44. Would you mind if I used your phone?

45. Would you mind if I took a two - week vacation in

September?
Change the sentences
Could I… ? May I …? Can I…?

46. Would you mind if I came and saw you tomorrow?

47. Would you mind if I took this seat?

48. Would you mind helping me clean the house?

Change the sentences
Could you…? Can you…?

49. Would you mind fixing my computer?

50. Would you mind looking after my children?

51. Would you mind posting this letter for me?

52. Would you mind finishing the lesson now?