Learn English

Ask permission in these situations. Use Can I…?, Could I…?, Can’t I…? or Couldn’t I…? (Be
careful how you use my, you, your, and we in your answers.) (A)
f I want Л
I another drink. /

Can I Have,
another drink?
You want…
another drink. Can I Have another drink ?
to leave your books with me. (he particularly polite)
to call your brother from my phone.
to talk to me about your job application, (he particularly polite)
to park your car on my drive. (I’ve already refused once)
to ask me exactly what my job is.
Read more…

To ask PERMISSION to do something we use can or could:
• Can/Could I take another biscuit?
We use could to be particularly polite. If we want to put extra pressure on someone to give a
positive answer we can use can’t or couldn’t. For example, you might use couldn’t where you
expect that the answer is likely to be ‘no’, or where permission has been refused before:
• Can’t/Couldn’t we stay just a little bit longer? Please?
To give and refuse permission we use can and can’t:
• Okay. You can stay in the spare room. • No, you can’t have another chocolate.
Q Notice that we prefer can/can’t rather than could/couldn’t to give or refuse permission:
Read more…