Page 99 - Oxford_English_Grammar_Course_Basic_2015

can, could and may. permission Can I use the phone?

We use can I ...? or can we...? to ask if it is OK to do things: to ask permission.

Can I use the phone, please? Mum, can I leave the table now? Can we wait here?
We often use Can I have...? and Can wehave...? to ask for things.

Can I have your address, please? Can we have some water?
6 Make questions with Can I ...?

DON'T SAY THIS! SAY THIS (to your sister, a friend, a waiter, your secretary)

► Lend me your pen. [borrow)
1 1 want a glass of water. [have) ..
2 I'm going to use your pencil. [use) ....
3 1want some more coffee. [have) ..

4 I'll put my coat here. [put) ....
5 Give me some bread. [have) ..
6 Show me those photos. [look at)

Could...? is more formal and polite than can...?, so we use it, for example, with strangers, older people,
teachers and bosses. Could I possibly...? is very polite.

Could we leave our luggage here until this afternoon? Could I possibly borrow your paper for a moment?

^ Make polite questions with Could I ...?
DON'T SAY THIS! SAY THIS (to a stranger, a teacher, a boss, an older person)

► Lend me your pen. [borrow) . Could I borrow y o u r pei/v> please?
1 1need to use your calculator. [use) ......

2 I'm leaving early today. [leave) ....
3 1want to take your photo. [take) .....

4 Lend me your newspaper. [borrow) .

5 I'm going to turn on the TV. [turnon) .

6 1want to open a window. [open) ....

We use can!can't, but not could/couldn't, to say that it is or isn't OK to do things.
(You can't is like you mustn't - see page 77.)
You can leave your books here if you want. (NOT You could leave your books...)
You can't use the gym between 1.00 and 2.00.

^ Put the beginnings and ends together. Add can and verbs from the box.

borrow / eat park play turnon watch

0 If you don't have a torch, A
1 The children B they.............................

2 Tell the boys that C ynM cave borrow
3 If you're cold, D you..............................
4 If you're bored, E
5 Only teachers F you..............................

84 MODAL VERBS