Grammar point Modal Verbs Expressing Request, Offer, Suggestion, Asking for Permission and Instructions

The modal verbs can, could, will, would, should, may, and might are used for expressing request. Could is the most generally used form, e.g.:

Could you make out the bill, please?

Can sounds more confident, e.g.:

Can I have two tickets, please?

Will is more authoritative and therefore less polite, e.g.:

Will anyone who saw the accident please phone this number? (police announcement)

Would is used in polite requests, e.g.: Would you please count the change?

Should and would are used for formal requests in business correspondence, e.g.:

I should be very grateful if you would let me know whether you have any vacancies.

May and might with certain verbs like to ask, to have, to see, to speak to, to talk to sound as an ordinary request; might being less confident than may, e.g.:

May I see Mr Jones?

Might I ask you for advice?

Exercise 1. State the difference in the meaning of the modal verbs expressing request (ordinary, confident, formal, polite, authoritative) in the following sentences.

1. Could I leave a message? 2. Would you ask him to call me back? 3. I would be thankful if you give me the opportunity to discuss my qualifications with you at your convenience. 4. Can you put me through to Miss Lambert? 5. Will Mrs. Jones, passenger to Leeds, please come to the Inquiry Desk? 6. May I have your name? 7. Will you call me back later? 8. We should be grateful if you could give us information about Mr Norman. 9. Might I speak to the Regional Manager?

Exercise 2. Study the politeness scale of a request; refer to it in the next exercise.

Can you change a pound? May I have another cup of coffee? Will you wait for a minute? Might I talk to the authority of the company? Would you spell that for me? Would you mind waiting for a minute? Could I leave a message? Could you possibly do me a favour? Would you kindly let me use your phone? Would you be so kind as to keep me informed?

Less polite More polite

Exercise 3. Rank the following phrases according to the politeness scale of a request, from less polite to more polite.

___Would you repeat that number, please?

___Could you wait for a minute?

___Could you possibly lend me $5500?

___Will you hold on?

___Might I rely on your support in the discussion?

___Can I have extension number 070?

___Would you be so kind as to postpone the terms of payment for a month?

___Would you mind moving your car?

___May I have a copy of the letter?

Exercise 4. Complete the sentences with the modal verbs can, could, will, would, may, and might expressing request.

1. ________ I ask who is calling? 2. I didn't catch that. ________ you repeat what you said? 3. Thanks. I'll leave it to you then. ________ you mind giving me a ring later on to confirm everything? 4. The number's engaged. ________ you hold on? 5. ________ I have your name? 6. That's right. I prefer to see Mr. Watson before the meeting. ________ you kindly arranging that for me? 7. I'm afraid it's a bad line. ________ you speak up? 8. Perhaps ________ you ask Mr. Bird to call me back? 9. I beg your pardon? ________ you speak English? 10. Mark, ________ you post this for me on your way to the office? 11. We ________ be grateful if you could correct the statement. 12. The fax you sent me was illegible. ________ you take a copy of the original and send it by regular mail?

The modal verbs would, will, shall, can, and could are used to express an offer.

In this case would is more polite, will is more authoritative, e.g.:

Would you like a coffee?

Will you sit down?

Could is less direct and therefore more polite than shall and can, e.g.:

Shall I show you the way to the main office?

Can I help you?

Could I help you to carry this bag?

Exercise 5. Study the politeness scale of an offer, refer to it in the next exercise.

Shall 1 help you with your baggage?	Less polite
Will you sit down?
Won't you put your bag?
Would you like a cup of tea?
Would you like me to post these letters for you
Could I help you to write an order?	More polite

Exercise 6. Rank the following phrases according to the politeness scale of an offer, from less polite to more polite.

___Would you like one of these chocolates?

___Won't you use my cellar-phone?

___Can I be of any service to you?

___Would you like me to carry this parcel?

___Shall I dial a number for you?

___Could I give you a lift home?

___Will you take off your raincoat?

To express suggestion both shall and could are used; could is more polite in this case, e.g.:

Shall we discuss the matter over now?

Could you manage Tuesday?

The modal verbs may, might, can, and could are used to ask permission; may is more formal than can and could, might is less confident than may, e.g.:

May I leave now?

Might I make a suggestion if you don't mind?

Can I ask you something?

Could I ask you something if you're not too busy?

The modal verbs shall and would are used for asking for instructions; shall is less polite than would, e.g.:

Shall I repeat?

What would you like us to put on this card?

Exercise 7. Complete the following sentences with the modal verbs shall, can, could, may, might, and would for suggestion, permission and asking for instructions.

1.I'm sorry, Ms Miller has already left the office. ________ I ask her to call you tomorrow? 2. ________ I interrupt you? 3. ________ we stop the discussion here or go on? 4. It's too late. ________ we discuss it tomorrow morning? 5. I'd like to negotiate the transporting costs with you. ________ we say Monday, the 3rd of May? 6. I beg your pardon. Whom ________ you like to speak to? 7. ________ you manage to continue the deal in the afternoon? 8. Mr. Frank is at the meeting now. ________ I get him to call you back? 9. Sandy, ________ I borrow your pen for a moment? 10. It's lunch time already. Ms Collin, ________ I finish that later?

Exercise 8. Croup the following phrases according to their meaning: request, offer, suggestion, asking for permission and instructions.

1. Can I get a monthly ticket for the bus?

2. Would you prefer tea or coffee?

3. May I have your telephone number?

4. Could I come to the interview at a later date?

5. Shall I help you with your invoice?

6. May I have my annual leave in June?

7. Would you mind if I brought a colleague with me?

8. Will you wait for a minute?

9. Would you spell that for me, please?

10. Shall we say two o'clock?

11. Can I smoke here?

12. Could we manage Friday morning?

13. Shall I make some more copies?

14. Won't you stay a little longer?

15. Might use your lap-top computer?

16. Harris & Co, can I help you?