Likes, abilities and requests, part 4 of 6

Can I…? Can You…?: Asking for Permission and Favors

Can I...? asks for permission (Can I sit here?) and Can you...? asks for a favor (Can you help me?). Could sounds more polite.

A1 · 13 minBefore:Can and can't

The idea

How to ask with can

Can asks for permission for yourself (Can I...?) or a favor from someone (Can you...?). Could and please make it more polite.

Permission: Can I. You will do it: Can I come in?
A favor: Can you. The other person does it: Can you wait?
More polite: could. With people you do not know: Could you help me, please?

When to use it

To ask for permission and favors politely, at home, at school, or in a store. These expressions go with it:

To say yes

Sure.
Of course.
No problem.
Go ahead.

To say no

Sorry, I can't.
I'm afraid not.
Maybe later.

To ask

Can I ask you something?
Can you say that again?
Could you speak slowly?

Examples

Asking for permission
Can I sit here?
Asking a favor
Can you open the door?
More polite
Could you repeat that, please?
Asking for something
Can I have a glass of water?
At school
Can I borrow your pencil?
On the phone
Could I speak to Mr. Ruiz?

How to build it

3 steps

Who will do it?You: Can I. The other person: Can you.Can I... / Can you...
Add the base verbNo to and no -s:Can I open the window?
Add please or use couldIt sounds more polite:Could you help me, please?

Permission

Can / Could ICan I
base verbuse
complementthe car
??

Favor

Can / Could youCould you
base verbclose
complementthe door
??

The rule

How to answer

Answer	In English	When
Yes	Sure. / Of course.	to say yes
No	Sorry, I can't.	you cannot help
No	Sorry, you can't.	you do not give permission

How to pronounce it

can
/kən/
Weak in questions: /kən aɪ/.
could
/kʊd/
The l is silent: /kʊd/.

Check

Your bag is heavy. (blank) help me? Which one goes in the blank?

Don't confuse it with would like

Can I have the check, please?

Asking with can

I'd like the check, please.

Asking with would like

Can I have...? and I'd like... both ask for something. I'd like sounds a little more formal, as in a restaurant.

Part 2: would like

In real life

Please goes at the end or after the subject: Can you please wait? Could you wait, please? Without please, a request can sound rude.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between can and could for requests?

Both work; could sounds more polite or formal: Could you open the window? With friends and family, can is fine.

Is May I the same as Can I?

Yes, for permission, but May I sounds very formal: May I come in? In speech people use Can I more.

Do you answer "Yes, you can" or "Sure"?

Both are fine. Sure and Of course sound friendlier than Yes, you can.

In short

Permission for you: Can I sit here?
A favor from someone: Can you help me?
More polite: could and please.
Answer politely: Sure. / Sorry, I can't.

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