Making Requests / Asking for Permission/ Offering Helps

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Asking for, Giving and Refusing Permission

by Using the Modals Can/Could
If someone is given permission to do something, they are allowed to do it; if someone is denied permission to
do something, they are not allowed to do it. You can use the modal verb 'can' to ask for and give permission.
 A: Can I ask you something? B: Yes, of course you can.

'Can't' is used to refuse permission. 'Can't (cannot)' is the negative form of the modal verb 'can'.
 A: Can I go to the cinema with my friends, Dad? B: No, you can't.

Refusals can often be softened with other words. For example:

 A: Can I ask you something very personal? B: No, I'm afraid you can't.

You can also use the modal verb 'could' to ask for permission; it is more polite than 'can'.
 A: Could I ask you something? B: Yes, you can. (NOT ... Yes, you could. / No, you couldn't.)

Remember: Do not use 'could' to give or refuse permission. To give permission, use the modal verb 'can'. To
refuse permission, use 'can't'.

Expressing, Granting and Denying Requests by Using the Modals

Can/Could
When you make a request, you ask someone for something or ask them to do something. The simplest way to
ask for something is to say 'Can I have...?' You can also add the word 'please' to be more polite.
 A: Can I have my book back, please? B: Yes, of course you can.

 A: Can you help me lift this chair? B: Sure I can.

If you want to make your request more polite, use the modal 'could'.
 A: Could I have another cup of tea? B: Yes, you can. / No, you can't. (NOT ...Yes, you could.)

Remember: Do not use 'could' to grant or refuse a request. To grant requests, use the modal verb 'can'. To
refuse requests, use 'can't'.

Asking for, Giving and Refusing Permission by Using the Modals

May/Might
'May' and 'might' are used for permission mostly in a formal style. They are much more formal, tentative and
polite than their siblings 'can' and 'could'.
 Can I leave work a bit earlier today? (more informal, casual)

 Excuse me, may I leave work a bit earlier today? (formal)

'Might' is even more formal and polite than 'may'. It is mostly used in indirect question structures.
 I wonder if I might leave work a bit earlier today?

You can also say

 Might I leave work a bit earlier today?

but the above indirect question structure sounds more natural.

'May not' is used to refuse permission.

 A: May I borrow your lipstick? B: No, you may not!

A note: Speakers of American English often prefer to use the modal verb 'may' (instead of 'can' or 'could') to
ask permission.

Expressing, Granting and Denying Requests by Using the Modals

May/Might
You can also make requests with the modals 'may' and 'might'. Requests with 'may' or 'might' sound very polite
and formal. In less formal or casual situations, you should use 'can' or 'could'.
 Excuse me, may I have a look at your newspaper? (very polite, formal)

 Can I look at your newspaper for a moment? (casual, informal)

 Excuse me, I wonder if I might have a look at your newspaper for a moment? (very polite, formal)

 Might I have something to eat? (very polite, formal)

Requests with 'might' sound a little bit old-fashioned. Some English speakers find 'might' to be too distant for
making requests.

'May not' is used to deny a request.

 A: May I borrow you car? B: No, you may not.

 A: Excuse me, I wonder if I might have a look at your newspaper for a moment? B: No, you may not!.

Language for asking permission

Question head subject verb phrase with base infinitive

Can I borrow your pen?
Could he use your phone charger?
she take the day off tomorrow?
they ask you something?
have one of your sandwiches?

 Language for asking permission 2

Question head subject verb phrase with present simple

Would it be OK I borrow/s your pen?
if he use/s your phone charger?
Would it be she take/s the day off tomorrow?
alright if they ask/s you to help me?
have/has one of your sandwiches?

Language for asking permission 3

Question head subject verb phrase with past subjunctive

Would it be OK I borrowed your pen?
if he used your phone charger?
Would it be she took the day off tomorrow?
alright if they asked you to help me?
had one of your sandwiches?

A word about politeness

When asking for permission to do something we usually use the word 'please' to make
the request sound more polite. It's not grammatically necessary to use 'please' but you
may sound rude if you don't use it. 'Please' can be put in different places in the sentence;
at the start, end or before the verb:

Please can I borrow your pen?

Can I please borrow your pen?
Can I borrow your pen, please?

A more important way of showing politeness is the tone of voice and intonation. Even if
you use the word 'please' you can sound rude if your pronunciation is not correct.

Generally the longer an expression is the more formal and polite it sounds. However
remember that pronunciation is always very important in a spoken request for
permission.

Requesting Permission
MORE FORMAL

Would, could, please + verb are used to request permission.

May I leave early?

Might I leave early? (excessively formal)

Would you mind if I left early?

Would you mind my leaving early?

I would like to ask you if I might leave early? (formal!)

LESS FORMAL

Can and other expressions are used informally in speech to request permission.

Can I leave early?

Is it a problem if I leave early?

We're leaving early, you don't mind, do you?

I need to leave, do you mind?

Is is OK if I leave early?

Conversations
Conversation 1 Conversation 2
John and Sandra are a couple on holiday in Paris Paul needs to ask his boss for permission to
and John goes up to a stranger: leave work early the next day:

John : ‘Excuse me, sorry to bother you, Paul : ‘Mr Clark.’

would you mind taking our picture?’
Stranger : ‘No not at all. Where would you like to
stand?’
Sandra : ‘Here’s fine. In front of the Eifel
Tower.’
Stranger : ‘Great, say cheese.’
Mr Clark : ‘Hi Paul, is everything OK?’
Paul : ‘Yes thanks. It’s just, do you mind if
I leave early tomorrow? I need to
take my sister to the airport.’
Mr Clark : ‘No, of course not. That’s fine.
 Paul : ‘Thanks.’

Conversation 3 Conversation 4
Harry needs to make a call but his phone Pat and Anne are classmates. Pat’s pen runs
battery is flat. He’s with his friend Bill. out:

Harry : ‘Oh no, my phone’s dead. Is it OK if I Pat : ‘My pen’s run out. Could I borrow one
use yours? To phone Carol.’ of yours?’
Bill : ‘Yeah sure. Go ahead. How are you Anne : ‘Sure. Here you are.’
and Carol getting on?’ Pat :‘Thanks.’
Harry : ‘Cheers. Not bad, not bad at all.’