Page 86 - English Grammar in Use

Unit can/could/would you … ? etc.
37 (Requests, offers, permission and invitations)

A Asking people to do things (requests) Could you open the door, please?
We use can or could to ask people to do things:
Can you wait a moment, please?
or Could you wait a moment, please?
Helen, can you do me a favour?
Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the bus station?
You can say Do you think you could … ? :
Do you think you could take me to the airport?
(not Do you think you can)

B Asking for things
To ask for something, we use Can (I) have … ? / Could (I) have … ? or Can (I) get …?:
(in a shop)
Can I have these postcards, please? or Can I get these postcards, please?
(in a restaurant)
Could we have the menu, please? or Can we have the menu, please?
May I have … ? is also possible:
May I have these postcards, please?

C Asking to do things Could I use your phone charger?
We use can I or could I to ask to do something:
(on the phone) Hello, can I speak to Steve, please?
‘Could I use your phone charger?’ ‘Sure.’
Do you think I could borrow your bike?
May is also possible:
May I ask you a question?
May is more formal than can or could.
You can also say:
Do you mind if I … ?
Is it all right if I …? / Is it OK if I … ?
Do you mind if I use your phone charger?
‘Is it all right if I sit here?’ ‘Yes, of course.’

D Offering and inviting

You can use Can I … ? to offer to do something:
‘Can I help you?’ ‘No, it’s OK. I can manage, thanks.’

‘Can I get you some coffee?’ ‘That would be nice.’
To offer or to invite, we use Would you like … ? (not Do you like):

‘Would you like some coffee?’ ‘No, thanks.’

‘Would you like to eat with us tonight?’ ‘That would be great.’
I’d like … (= I would like) is a polite way to say what you want:
(at a tourist information office) I’d like some information about hotels, please.

(in a shop) I’d like to try on this jacket, please.

can and could ➜ Units 26–27 mind -ing ➜ Unit 53 would like ➜ Units 55A, 58B
74 Modal verbs (can/could/will/would etc.) ➜ Appendix 4