requests: can
5.161 Can is used to make a request in a simple and direct way.
Can I ask a question?
’Can I change this?’ I asked the box office lady, offering her my ticket.
requests: could
5.162 Could is more polite than can.
Could I have a bottle of lemonade, please?
Could I just interrupt a minute?
requests: can’t and couldn’t
5.163 You can make a request sound more persuasive by using can’t or couldn’t instead of can or could. For example, you can say Can’t I come with you? instead of Can I come with you?
Can’t we have some music?
Couldn’t we stay here?
requests: may and might
5.164 May and might are more formal than can and could. In the past, people were taught that, when asking for something, it was correct to say may rather than can, and might rather than could. However can and could are now generally used. Requests beginning with might are unusual, and are considered by most people to be old-fashioned.
May I have a cigarette?
May we have something to eat?
May I ask what your name is?
Might I inquire if you are the owner?
instructions: would like
5.165 Would like can be used with I or we in a declarative sentence to give an instruction or order. It is followed by you and a to-infinitive clause.
OK, everyone, I would like you to get into a circle.
Want can be used in a similar way to would like. This use of want is dealt with in paragraph 5.234.
firm instructions: will
5.166 An instruction or order can also be given using will in a declarative sentence. This form is used when the speaker is angry or impatient.
You will go and get one of your parents immediately.
You will give me those now.
formal instructions: shall
5.167 Shall is sometimes used in a declarative sentence to give an instruction or order. This is a very formal use.
There shall be no further communication between you.
imperatives
5.168 The imperative can also be used to give an instruction or order. This use is explained in paragraph 5.35.
requests: would like, should like
5.169 You can use would like or (in British English only) should like in a declarative sentence to make a request. Would like and should like are followed by a to-infinitive clause or a noun phrase.
I would like to ask you one question.
I’d like to have a little talk with you.
I should like a list of your customers over the past year.
polite additions to requests
5.170 All the ways of giving instructions or making requests described above can be made more polite by using please.
Can I speak to Nicola, please?
Please may I have the key?
You can also make a request more polite by adding the name of the person you are addressing at the beginning or end of your question.
Martin, could you make us a drink?
Can I talk to you, Howard?
Another way of making a request more polite is to add an adverb such as perhaps or possibly after the subject of the verb.
Could I perhaps bring a friend with me?
May I possibly have a word with you?
Could you just come into my office for a minute?
Making an offer or an invitation
5.171 Modals are often used to make an offer or an invitation.
You use will or would with you to ask someone to accept something, or to make an invitation.
You use can, may, shall, or should with I or we when you are offering to help someone.
Some of these structures are similar to those described in the previous section.
offers and invitations: will
5.172 Will is used with you in an interrogative sentence to offer something to someone, or to make an invitation in a fairly informal way. You use will when you know the person you are talking to quite well.
Will you have a whisky, Doctor?
Will you stay for lunch?
offers and invitations: would and wouldn’t
5.173 A more polite way of offering something or making an invitation is to use would with a verb that means to like.
Would you like a drink?
Would you care to stay with us?
If you want to sound more persuasive without seeming impolite or insistent, you can use wouldn’t instead of would.
Wouldn’t you like to come with me?
Wouldn’t you care for some more coffee?
offers of help: can
5.174 When you are offering to do something for someone, you usually use can followed by I or we.