Making an offer or an invitation

4.177 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' 4.178 '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' 4.179 A more polite way of offering something or making an invitation is to use 'would' with a verb which 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' 4.180 When you are offering to do something for someone, you usually use 'can' followed by 'I' or 'we'.

Can I help you with the dishes?

Can we give you a lift into town?

offers of help: 'may' 4.181 'May' is also used when you are offering to do something for someone. It is less common than 'can', and is rather formal and old-fashioned.

May I help you?

May I be of service to you?

offers of help: 'shall' and 'should' 4.182 You can also use 'shall' or 'should' when you are offering to do something.

If you are fairly confident that your offer will be accepted, you use 'shall'.

Shall I shut the door?

Shall I spell that for you?

If you are uncertain whether your offer will be accepted, you use 'should'.

Should I give her a ring?

emphasizing ability: 'can' 4.183 If you want to emphasize your ability to help, you can make an offer using 'can' in a declarative sentence.

I have a car. I can drop Daisy off on my way home.

I can pop in at the shop tomorrow.

persuasive invitations: 'must' 4.184 If you want to make an invitation in a very persuasive way, you can use a declarative sentence beginning with 'you' and 'must'.

You must lunch with me tomorrow.

You must come and visit me.

You only use 'must' like this with people who you know well.

4.185 Other ways of making an offer or invitation are dealt with in paragraph 4.38.

Making suggestions

4.186 Suggestions can be made by using a modal in a declarative or interrogative sentence. The subject of the sentence is usually 'we' or 'you'.

4.187 You can make a suggestion by using 'could' in a declarative sentence or 'couldn't' in an interrogative sentence.

We could go sledging up at Wilmington.

You could have a nursery there.

Couldn't you just build more factories?

Couldn't some international agreement be concluded to ban these weapons?

4.18S If you are making a suggestion and you want to indicate that you feel strongly that it is a good idea, you can use 'should' or 'ought to'.

You should ask Norry about this.

I think you should get in touch with your solicitor.

We ought to celebrate. Let's get a bottle of champagne.

I think you ought to try a different approach.

A more polite way of making a suggestion that you feel strongly about is to use 'shouldn't' or 'oughtn't to' in an interrogative sentence.

Shouldn't we at least give her a chance?

Oughtn't we to phone the police?

4.189 If you are suggesting an action and you are trying to persuade someone that it should be done, you use 'must'. You only use 'must' like this when you are talking to someone you know well.

You must say hello to your daughter.

We must go to the place, perhaps have a weekend there.

4.190 If you want to make a suggestion in a very polite way, you can use 'might' with 'you' in a declarative sentence. 'Might' is followed by a verb meaning 'to like' or 'to want'.

You might like to comment on his latest proposal.

I thought perhaps you might like to come along with me.

You can also make a polite suggestion by using a sentence beginning with 'It might be', followed by a noun group or adjective and a 'to'-infinitive clause.

I think it might be a good idea to stop the recording now.

It might be wise to consult the wine waiter.

4.191 You can also make suggestions using the expressions 'might as well' and 'may as well'.

You use 'might as well' when what you are suggesting seems to be the only sensible course of action, although you are not enthusiastic about it.

He might as well take the car.

We might as well call the whole thing off.

You use 'may as well' to show that it is not important to you whether your suggestion is accepted or not.

You may as well open them all.

We may as well give her a copy.

suggesting: 'shall' 4.192 You can make a suggestion about what you and someone else could do by using an interrogative sentence beginning with 'shall' and 'we'.

Shall we go and see a film?

Shall we go on to question number six?

Shall we talk about something different now?

4.193 Other ways of making suggestions art described in paragraph 4.42.