Understanding Modal Verbs: Permission, Requests, Offers, and Invitations

 In English, modal verbs such as can, could, may, will, would, and shall are essential tools for communication. They are used to express various actions or attitudes such as permission, requests, offers, and invitations. Let's explore how we use these modal verbs in everyday situations, providing examples and explanations to help improve your understanding of their use.

Permission

1. Asking for Permission

To ask for permission to do something, we often use the modal verb can. This is common and casual, especially in everyday conversations:

• Can I ask a question, please?
• Can we go home now?

However, when we want to sound more polite or formal, we can use could or may:

• Could I ask a question, please? (more polite)
• May I ask a question, please? (formal and polite)

Could and may are both more respectful than can and are often used in situations where we want to be especially courteous.

2. Giving Permission

When giving permission, we also use can. For example:

• You can go home now if you like.
• You can borrow my pen if you like.

To make the permission sound more formal or polite, we can use may:

• You may go home now, if you like.

In both cases, the speaker is allowing the listener to do something.

3. Talking About General Permission

We use can to describe situations where permission is granted more generally:

• We can go out whenever we want.
• Students can travel free.

Again, may can make this sound more formal:

• Students may travel free.

While I and we are often used when asking for permission for ourselves, it’s also possible to ask permission for others. For example:

• May she bring a friend?
• Could he try again?
• Can they sleep here?

You can also give permission for others:

• You may sleep on the sofa.
• You can wear my jacket.

Requests

1. Making a Request

To ask someone to do something politely, we commonly use could you and would you. These forms are considered respectful and gentle:

• Could you take a message, please?
• Would you carry this for me, please?
• Could I have my bill, please?

On the other hand, can and will are less formal:

• Can you take a message, please?
• Will you carry this for me, please?

Though these forms are still polite, they are more casual than could and would.

Offers

1. Offering Help

When we offer to help someone, we typically use can I, shall I, or the more informal I can and I’ll (I will). For example:

• Can I help you?
• Can I do that for you?
• Shall I help you with that?
• Shall I call you on your mobile?

You can also offer help using I can or I could:

• I can do that for you if you like.
• I can give you a lift to the station.
• I’ll do that for you if you like.
• I’ll give you a lift to the station.

These phrases are used to show willingness to assist someone.

Invitations

1. Inviting Someone

When inviting someone, we use the phrase would you like to make the invitation sound polite and friendly:

• Would you like to come round tomorrow?
• Would you like another drink?

For a very polite or formal invitation, we can use you must or we must:

• You must come round and see us.
• We must meet again soon.

Practice Exercises

Now, let's look at some examples to practice using modal verbs in different situations. Choose the correct modal verb (can or could) to complete the questions.

1. You are in a clothes shop. You see some trousers you like and want to try them on. You say to the shop assistant:

   • Can I try on these trousers?

2. You have a car. You have to go the same way as Steve, who is on foot. You offer him a lift. You say to him:

   • Can I give you a lift?

3. You phone Sue, but someone else answers. Sue isn't there, and you want to leave a message. You say:

   • Can I leave a message for her? or Could you give her a message?

4. You're a tourist. You want to go to the station but don't know how to get there. You ask at your hotel:

   • Can you tell me how to get to the station? or Could you tell me the way to the station?

5. You're carrying a lot of things and can't open the door. There's a man standing near the door. You say to him:

   • Could you open the door, please?

Conclusion

Modal verbs are powerful tools in English that help us express permission, make requests, offer help, and invite others. By practicing these forms in everyday situations, you will sound more natural and polite in your conversations. Remember to use can for informal requests and permissions, while could and may are better for polite and formal situations. Similarly, would you like and you must make invitations sound courteous and welcoming.

References

Aebersold, J. A., & Field, M. L. (2002). From reader to reading teacher: Issues and strategies for second language classrooms. Cambridge University Press.

Swales, J. M., & Feak, C. B. (2012). Academic writing for graduate students: Essential tasks and skills (3rd ed.). University of Michigan Press.