Can I borrow your book?
A request is when you ask for something.
Informal Formal
Can I borrow
your book?
Could I borrow
your book?
We are usually
formal with
everyone else, like
teachers, doctors,
and people we do
not know well.
We are often
informal with
family and
friends.
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What is Jack requesting?
Choose the best request for the picture
May I go to the
restroom?
A
Can I have
another
cookie?
Could I borrow
some money?
B
C
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Polite requests with I
modal I verb …?
informal
formal
formal
very Formal
can
could
may
might
I
go
leave
take
borrow
to the park?
early today?
this newspaper?
some money?
Might is very formal. We don’t use might often.
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1. I / today / go home / may / early
May I go home early today?
2. your pencil / I / borrow / could
3. with my friends / to the cinema / go /
I / can
4. I / may / pay / in cash / the bill
5. borrow / I / your car / tomorrow / can
Make requests
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Requests for permission
We use:
Can I…?
Could I…?
May I…?
for permission.
?
No!
Yes
Can I please go to the concert tomorrow
night with my friends?
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6. You need a menu. Can I have a
menu? or Could I have a menu?
7. You are not happy with the
service.
8. You would like to order something
sweet.
menu manager dessert list
can, could or may for requests
You are at a restaurant. Use these words:
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9. You are thirsty.
10. You finished your food and you
want to pay.
11. You loved the meal and you want
to come again next week.
bill/check
make a
reservation
drink
can, could or may for requests
You are at a restaurant. Use these words:
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12.__________ a photo of you?
13. __________ early today? I feel
unwell.
14. __________ my friend to your
party?
take invite leave
can, could or may for requests
Use these verbs in the situations below:
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15.__________ to the cinema with
Sally and Johann?
16.__________ $70? I will return it
next week.
go borrow
can, could or may for requests
Use these verbs in the situations below:
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17.You are in my apartment. We are
good friends. You want to use the
phone.
Can I use the phone?
18.You want to give me your homework
tomorrow. I am your teacher.
Make a request
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19. You want to come into my office. I
am your boss.
20. You are my friend. You want to
borrow some money.
21.You are in a restaurant. You need a
chair for your friend. There is an
extra chair at my table.
Make a request
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Requests with you as the subject
What is Caitlyn requesting?
Would you
open the
door?
A
Will you help
me with my
bags?
Could you
pass the
pepper and
salt?
B
C
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Polite requests with you
modal you verb …?
informal
formal
formal
very formal
can
could
would
will
you
pass
take
turn off
lend
the butter?
my photo?
the television?
me some money?
Will you…? is more common in British English.
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Match the request to the response
Can I give you my
homework tomorrow?
Could I borrow your car
tomorrow?
Would you open the
door for me?
Will you come to the
cinema with me?
Sorry… but it’s at the
mechanic’s!
Sure, which film do you
want to see?
Of course… and do
you want some help
with your bags?
No, you need to give it
to me now!
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Match the request to the response
May I have a day off
tomorrow?
Could I borrow some
money?
Would you help me up
the stairs?
Can you pass the
butter?
Again? I gave you $50
last week!
Well, I’m not sure. Did
you finish all your
work?
Sure. And can you
pass me a slice of
bread?
Of course… but you
can also take the
elevator.
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22.you / would / the door / for me /
open
23. drive / home / can / you / tonight /
me
24. pass / me / will / the sugar / you
25.talk / would / you / more quietly
26.the rubbish / you / could / take out
Make requests with these words
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27.Mom… _____ I _____ television tonight? I finished my
homework!
28. _____ you _____ my bag for me please? It’s too heavy.
29. Dad? _____ you _____ me to football practice tonight?
30._____ I please _____ my girlfriend to your party on
Saturday?
Make a request - can/may/could/would/will
bring carry take watch
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31. I’m trying to study. _____ you please _____ the music?
32. My leg is very sore so _____ you please _____ me up
the stairs?
33. I can’t see anything. _____ you _____ the light?
34. The food was excellent. _____ you _____ us the bill?
Make a request - can/may/could/would/will
help turn on turn off bring
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Would you mind if I
closed the window?
Polite request with Would you mind…?
Would you mind closing
the window?
You are asking
permission
You are asking someone
to do something
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Asking for permission
would… past simple …?
would you
mind if I..
ate
used
borrowed
didn’t come
the last piece of cake?
your phone?
your bicycle?
tonight?
We use the past simple but the meaning is for the present or
future.
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Match the request to the response
Would you mind if I
opened the window?
Would you mind if I
took the day off
tomorrow?
Would you mind if I
didn’t come to the
cinema?
Would you mind if I
borrowed Albert’s car?
You can’t. We are too
busy at the moment.
No, go ahead… it’s hot
in here.
Don’t ask me! You
need to ask Albert.
Not at all. We can go
next week.
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Match the request to the response
Would you mind if I
took that seat?
Would you mind if I
borrowed a cup of
sugar?
Would you mind if I
kept your book one
more week?
Would you mind if I
didn’t come to the
party?
No, go ahead. It’s
empty.
Of course not. Do you
like it?
Of course you can
Betty. Are you making
cakes again?
What? No! It will be
fun!
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Asking someone to do something
What is Peter asking?
Would you
mind
carrying my
bag?
A
Would you
mind helping
me across
the street?
Would you
mind coming
into my
office?
B
C
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Asking someone to do something
verb -ing …?
Would you
mind
helping
coming
cleaning up
finishing
me set the table?
into my office?
your desk?
that report before
tomorrow?
Remember! asking permission:
past simple …?
Would you
mind if I
used your bicycle?
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Match the request to the response
Would you mind
opening the window?
Would you mind turning
the music down?
Would you mind doing
the dishes?
Would you mind
repeating that?
Again? I washed the
dishes last night.
Of course not… it’s hot
in here.
Oh, sorry if it was too
loud.
I said ‘Please do the
homework tonight.’
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Match the request to the response
Would you mind buying
some milk?
Would you mind taking
the next street on the
right?
Would you mind
opening the door?
Would you mind
helping me with my
French homework?
I can do that… but my
French isn’t very good.
Rogerson St?
Of course not. You
have a lot of luggage!
No, I’ll get some. Do
we need anything else?
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35. You want your friend to help you.
36. You want to open the window.
37.You want your teacher to open the
window.
38.You want to take the day off work
tomorrow.
Make requests with Would you mind
Would you mind + verb -ing or
Would you mind if I + past tense
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39.You want to leave work early today.
40.You want your teacher to repeat the
instructions.
41.You want your children to set the
table.
42.You want to borrow your mom’s car.
Make requests with Would you mind
Would you mind + verb -ing or
Would you mind if I + past tense
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43. Would you mind if I borrowed
your computer?
44. Would you mind if I used your
phone?
45.Would you mind if I took a
two-week vacation in
September?
Change the sentences
Could I…? May I…? Can I…?
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46.Would you mind if I came and
saw you tomorrow?
47.Would you mind if I took this
seat?
48.Would you mind helping me
clean the house?
Change the sentences
Could I…? May I…? Can I…?
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49. Would you mind fixing my computer?
50. Would you mind looking after my
children?
51.Would you mind posting this letter for
me?
52.Would you mind finishing the lesson
now?
Change the sentences
Could you…? Can you…?