asking for permission, making requests, making offers, making suggestions
This guide explains how to use can, could, may, would, shall, and other expressions to ask for permission, make requests, offer help, or suggest ideas. Each section includes examples and dialogues for better clarity.
1. Asking for Permission
💡 Asking for permission is a polite way to request approval to do something.
💡 Use can, could, may, or do you mind if for varying levels of formality.
✅ Commozn Phrases:
- Can I…?
- Could I…?
- May I…?
- Do you mind if…?
Examples:
- Dialogue 1:
You: Can I borrow your pen? ✏️
Friend: Sure, here you go. - Dialogue 2:
You: Could I use your phone for a moment? 📱
Friend: Of course, no problem. - Dialogue 3:
You: May I have a glass of water? 🥤
Host: Absolutely, I’ll get it for you. - Dialogue 4:
You: Do you mind if I open the window? 🌬️
Friend: Not at all, go ahead. - Dialogue 5:
You: Can I sit here? 💺
Stranger: Yes, it’s free. - Dialogue 6:
You: Could I leave early today? 🕒
Boss: That’s fine, just finish your tasks first. - Dialogue 7:
You: May I take a day off tomorrow? 🗓️
Manager: Sure, you deseve it. - Dialogue 8:
You: Do you mind if I turn on the TV? 📺
Roommate: No, go ahead. - Dialogue 9:
You: Can I use your charger? 🔌
Friend: Sure, it’s over there. - Dialogue 10:
You: Could I take one of these cookies? 🍪
Host: Yes, help yourself! - Dialogue 11:
You: May I join your group? 🤝
Classmate: Of course. - Dialogue 12:
You: Do you mind if I turn off the lights? 💡
Friend: No, that’s fine. - Dialogue 13:
You: Can I borrow your jacket? 🧥
Friend: Sure, just return it later. - Dialogue 14:
You: Could I have a moment of your time? ⏱️
Teacher: Yes, what do you need? - Dialogue 15:
You: May I join you for lunch? 🍴
Colleague: Of course, come and sit with us.
2. Making Requests
💡 Making requests is a polite way to ask someone to do something for you or grant permission.
💡 Use can, could, would you mind, or do you think for various tones.
✅ Common Phrases:
- Can you…?
- Could you…?
- Would you mind…?
- Would it be possible…?
Examples:
- Dialogue 1:
You: Can you help me carry these books? 📚
Friend: Sure! - Dialogue 2:
You: Could you open the window? It’s hot in here. 🌬️
Friend: Of course! - Dialogue 3:
You: Would you mind lending me your pen? ✏️
Classmate: Not at all. Here you go! - Dialogue 4:
You: Would it be possible to get a ride to the store? 🚗
Neighbor: Yes, no problem! - Dialogue 5:
You: Do you think you can call me later? 📞
Friend: Sure, I’ll call you this evening. - Dialogue 6:
You: Can you pass me the salt, please? 🧂
Friend: Here you go. - Dialogue 7:
You: Could you turn off the lights? 💡
Sibling: Sure thing! - Dialogue 8:
You: Would you mind waiting here for a moment? 🕒
Friend: Of course not! - Dialogue 9:
You: Would it be possible to borrow your umbrella? ☂️
Neighbor: Sure, take it. - Dialogue 10:
You: Do you think you can help me with this homework? 📖
Classmate: Yes, let’s do it together. - Dialogue 11:
You: Can you hold this bag for me? 🛍️
Friend: Sure! - Dialogue 12:
You: Could you tell me the time? ⏰
Stranger: It’s 3 o’clock. - Dialogue 13:
You: Would you mind closing the door? 🚪
Classmate: No problem! - Dialogue 14:
You: Would it be possible to use your charger? 🔌
Friend: Sure, here it is. - Dialogue 15:
You: Do you think you can join us for dinner? 🍽️
Friend: I’d love to!
3. Making Offers
💡 Making offers is a way to show kindness or willingness to help someone or provide something.
💡 Use can I, shall I, would you like, or do you want.
✅ Common Phrases:
- Can I…?
- Shall I…?
- Would you like me to…?
- Do you want me to…?
Examples:
- Dialogue 1:
Friend: I can’t find my keys.
You: Can I help you look for them? 🔑 - Dialogue 2:
Friend: I’m feeling cold.
You: Shall I get you a blanket? 🛌 - Dialogue 3:
Guest: This bag is so heavy!
You: Would you like me to carry it for you? 👜 - Dialogue 4:
Colleague: I forgot my pen at home.
You: Would you like to borrow mine? ✏️ - Dialogue 5:
Parent: The dishes are still dirty.
You: Do you want me to wash them? 🍽️ - Dialogue 6:
Friend: I’m so thirsty.
You: Do you want a glass of water? 💧 - Dialogue 7:
Guest: I’m not sure where to sit.
You: May I offer you a chair? 🪑 - Dialogue 8:
Colleague: This document is hard to understand.
You: Shall I explain it to you? 📄 - Dialogue 9:
Sibling: I don’t know how to make this dish.
You: Can I show you how? 🍳 - Dialogue 10:
Friend: My phone’s battery is dead.
You: Would you like me to lend you my charger? 🔌 - Dialogue 11:
Parent: The groceries are heavy.
You: Do you want me to carry them for you? 🛒 - Dialogue 12:
Guest: The tea is too strong for me.
You: Would you like some sugar? 🍬 - Dialogue 13:
Friend: I can’t decide what to watch.
You: Can I recommend a movie? 🎥 - Dialogue 14:
Guest: I don’t know what to do in this city.
You: Shall I suggest some places to visit? 🌆 - Dialogue 15:
Friend: I forgot my umbrella, and it’s raining!
You: May I offer you mine? ☂️
4. Making Suggestions
💡 Making suggestions is a polite way to propose ideas or plans to someone.
💡 Use why don’t we, let’s, how about, what if, or shall we.
✅ Common Phrases:
- Why don’t we/you…?
- Let’s…
- How about…?
- What if…?
- Shall we…?
Examples:
- Dialogue 1:
Friend: I’m bored.
You: Why don’t we watch a movie? 🍿 - Dialogue 2:
Friend: I need to relax.
You: Let’s go for a walk. 🌅 - Dialogue 3:
Friend: I want to eat something.
You: How about trying that new restaurant? 🍝 - Dialogue 4:
Classmate: I don’t understand this question.
You: What if we ask the teacher? 📖 - Dialogue 5:
Friend: I want to exercise more.
You: We could join a gym together. 🏋️ - Dialogue 6:
Colleague: We need to finish this project quickly.
You: Why don’t we divide the tasks? 📄 - Dialogue 7:
Sibling: I’m hungry.
You: Let’s make sandwiches. 🥪 - Dialogue 8:
Friend: It’s so hot today.
You: How about going for ice cream? 🍦 - Dialogue 9:
Classmate: I’m struggling with this math problem.
You: What if we solve it together? 🧮 - Dialogue 10:
Friend: I don’t know what to do this weekend.
You: Shall we visit the park? 🌳 - Dialogue 11:
Parent: The house needs cleaning.
You: Why don’t we clean it together? 🧹 - Dialogue 12:
Friend: I feel stressed about my exams.
You: Let’s take a break and relax. 🧘 - Dialogue 13:
Colleague: We’re running out of ideas for the project.
You: How about brainstorming together? 💡 - Dialogue 14:
Sibling: I don’t know what to wear.
You: What if we go shopping this afternoon? 🛍️ - Dialogue 15:
Friend: I want to celebrate my birthday.
You: Shall we plan a small party? 🎉
- Dialogue 1: