Modal verbs for requests

1.

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студентка 21-А групи
Сало Христина

2. Modal verbs are used in English to make polite requests. The lesson below shows you how to use modal verbs for requests can

help you
communicate in English.
Can & could
Can and could are modal verbs used to make
requests. Here is the structure:
can/could + subject + verb
examples:
● Can you pass the salt please?
● Could you bring your book tomorrow?

3.

Instructions and requests :
We use could you and would you as polite ways of telling or
asking someone to do something:
Could you take a message please?
Would you carry this for me please?
● Could I have my bill please?
Can and will are less polite:
Can you take a message please?
Will you carry this for me please?

4. Can and could are used differently. Can is less polite than could. Can is used to make basic requests from a friend or

c o - w o r k e r. I t i s o f t e n u s e d f o r s m a l l t h i n g s .
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?
● C o u l d y o u h e l p m e w i t h m y h o m e w o r k M r.
Johnston?

5.

Would
Would is used to make polite requests in English. The structure is
as follows:
Would you mind + Verb + ING
Examples:
●Would
you mind closing the door?
● Would you mind turning down the radio?
You can also say “do you mind”, but “would you mind” is more
polite:
● Do
you mind turning off the music?
● Would you mind turning off the music?

6. Would can also be used to make polite requests with the verb “like”. ●I would like another drink please. ● I would like some

help with my math homework please.
Th is is th e same as u sin g th e v erb “ w ant ”. Ho wev er, wo u ld is
more polite.
● I want a drink.
● I would like a drink.
These types of requests are more common when ordering
s o m e t h i n g . Ta k e a l o o k a t t h e s e e x a m p l e s :
● I would like rice with my chicken.
● I would like another coke please.

7. REQUESTS WITH “TO HAVE” WHEN YOU NEED OR WANT SOMETHING, YOU CAN USE THE MODAL VERBS “CAN”, “COULD” OR “MAY” FOLLOWED BY THE

R E Q U E S T S W I T H “ T O H AV E ”
W H E N Y O U N E E D O R WA N T S O M E T H I N G , Y O U
C A N U S E T H E M O DA L V E R B S “ C A N ” , “ C O U L D ” O R
“ M A Y ” F O L L O W E D B Y T H E V E R B “ T O H AV E ” .
REMEMBER THAT WE USE “CAN” IN INFORMAL
S I T UA T I O N S , S U C H A S W I T H F R I E N D S A N D
F A M I L Y. “ C O U L D ” A N D “ M A Y ” A R E U S E D I N
M O R E F O R M A L S I T UA T I O N S , W I T H Y O U R B O S S O R
D U R I N G A M E E T I N G.
EXAMPLES:
“ C A N I H AV E S O M E M O R E C H I C K E N , M O M ? ”
“ C A N I H AV E T W O C O K E ’ S A N D A B U R G E R , P L E A S E ? ”
“ C O U L D I H AV E S O M E M O R E C O F F E E ? ”
“ C O U L D I H AV E T H E W I N E , P L E A S E ? ”
“ M A Y I H AV E T H E B I L L , P L E A S E ? ”

8.

The modal verbs MAY, COULD, WILL, WOULD are used in making polite
requests in speech and writing, in communication with strangers and with people you
know. CAN in requests is considered to be less polite than the other modals in this
group. CAN is generally used in informal requests, mostly in conversation with friends
and family.
Note the use of the pronouns "I, you". In requests, MAY is used in the form "May I";
WILL and WOULD are used in the forms "Will you" and "Would you"; COULD and
CAN are used in both variants.
May I speak to Tom Lee, please?
May I borrow your pen, please?
Could I speak to Tom Lee, please?
Could you lend me thirty dollars till Wednesday, please?
Can I borrow your pen, please?
Can you tell me where the bank is, please?
Will you please be quiet?
Would you please ask her to call me?
Note: The modal verb MIGHT may be used in making polite requests in the same way
as MAY, but it is rarely used in this function.

9.

The phrase "be allowed to"
The substitute phrases "be allowed to do something, be not allowed to
do something" can be used for describing permission in the present,
future, and past.
● I am not allowed to leave the house.
● You will be allowed to see the patient soon.
●We were allowed to take his car.
●They weren't allowed to stay there.
●She wasn't allowed to go there alone.

10. THE END!