Requests permission offer

1. * ask permission
* make requests
* offer help
We will focus on different ways to:

2. We ask permission when we want to be
permitted or allowed to do something. Some
forms are more polite than others.
Asking permission

3. Let’s compare:
Can I leave early?
Could I leave early?
Do you think I could
leave early?
May I leave early?
Do you mind if I leave
early?
Is it all right if I leave
early?
Yes, you can.
No, I'm sorry, you
can't.
That's all right.
Sorry, no.
Polite More polite Responses

4. Word order:
Can
May
Could I + verb (infinitive) …
?
Is it all right if
Could I use the telephone?

5. Offering help
When we want to do something for
another person, we offer help.

6. Examples:
- Shall I carry your bag?
- Yes, please.
- I'll carry your bag.
- Thanks.
We can also use this expression:
- Would you like a glass of water?
- Yes, please. / No, thanks.
Shall I verb (infinitive)… ?
I’ll (will) verb (infinitive)

7. Requests
A request is a way of politely asking someone to do something.
The kind of request we use depends on where we are, who we
are
talking to, and what we want the person to do.
Some forms are considered to be more polite than others.

8. In general, direct questions (1) are not
very polite, we prefer indirect questions
(2).
1) What's your passport number? (not very polite)
2) Could you tell me what your passport number is,
please? (very polite)
1) Where do you live?
2) Could you tell me where you live? (more polite)

9. More examples of indirect questions:
1) How do you want to pay?
2) Could you tell me how you want to pay? (more
polite)
1) Where do you want to stay?
2) Would you mind telling me where you want to
stay? (more polite)
1) Give me a couple of minutes. (not very polite)
2) Would you give me a couple of minutes, please?
(very polite)

10. Examples:
Can you help me
with the
computer?
Could you help me with the
computer?
Would you help me with the
computer?
Do you think you could help me
with this form?
Could you possibly help me
with the computer?
Would you mind helping me?
Sure.
Of course.
No problem.
Polite More polite Responses

11. Word order:
Can you
+ verb (infinitive) …?
Could you
Would you
Do you think you could
Could you possibly
Would you mind + verb (“ing”) …?
Could you help me?
Would you mind helping me?