1. Modals whenOFFERING and REQUESTING (Polite)
OFFERING
When we are in a coffee shop, restaurant, airplaneor any a place wherewe
receive a service, or if we are offering someone something in our house, for
example, it is common for the people serving (waiters, hosts, etc.) to use
modals and the questionform.
1. Would like
Would you like something to drink?
Would you guyslike to see the menu?
Or a general question:
Whatwould you like?
[REMEMBER: ‘would like’ is the polite formof ‘want’. Itis also possibleto
simply use the verb want although this is less polite: Do you want something
to drink?]
2. Can (May)
This is very polite and not very common.
Can I offer you a complimentary drink?
(May is a possiblealternative for can but is very very formal)
Or a general question:
Whatcan I get you?
There are a lot of possibleanswers to these questions:
Yes/no, thanks.
That would be great, thank you.
I’m ok for now thanks!
A common phraseis ‘anything else’ which we say when we wantto ask if
someone wants more: Would you like anything else?

2. REQUESTING
If someoneasks a general question, like wesaw in ‘Offering’: Whatwould
you like? Or we requestwithout a question, the best and mostpolite formis:
could I…? (Can I…? possiblebut less polite)
1. Could I…?
Could I have the fish please?
Could I get a coffee with sugar and soya milk?
[Itis also possibleto say can/could you…? Although this is less polite:
Hi, could you get me a glass of lemonade?]
2. Would like
Would like is also possible:
I would like a beer please*
*we can contract I would = I’d (and the same with you, he, she, we, they = ‘d)
We can also usethe phrasewould love in this context to add politeness:
I’d lovea glass of wine, thanks!