Could I…? May I…?

What's in the lesson

1. 1Warm-up
2. 2In this lesson
3. 3Check the conversationListening comprehension
4. 4What does it mean?Grammar exercise
5. 5Find Could I and May IGrammar exercise
6. 6Asking for permissionGrammar rule
7. 7I or you?Grammar exercise
8. 8At the gymGrammar exercise
9. 9Find the mistakeGrammar exercise
10. 10Ask your teacherGrammar exercise
11. 11Say it naturallySpeaking practice
12. 12Somewhere newSpeaking practice
13. 13About youGrammar exercise
14. 14Wrap-up

Homework

1. 1Homework: at a friend's apartmentGrammar exercise
2. 2Homework: which is right?Grammar exercise
3. 3Homework: questions and answersGrammar exercise
4. 4Homework: a message to your hostDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

1. Do you have a library card? When did you last go to a library?
2. At your work or school, can people eat at their desks?
3. Who do you call by their first name, and who do you call Mr. or Ms. in your life?

Grammar rule

Asking for permission

Can / Could / May + I + verb

Question	Example	How polite?
Can I + verb…?	Can I have a bite?	normal and friendly
Could I + verb…?	Could I stay a little longer?	a little more polite
May I + verb…?	May I speak to the manager?	polite and formal: strangers, a boss, a teacher, at a desk or in a store

With we: Could we sit outside? May we start? After can, could and may, the verb has no to, no -s and no -ing.

Answers

Yes	No
Sure. · Of course. · Yes, you can. · Go ahead. · Sure, go ahead.	I'm sorry, but you can't. · I'm afraid not. + a reason: I'm sorry, but you can't. This room is closed.

Could I…? and May I…? are about what I do. When another person does it, ask Could you…? or Can you…?: not May you help me?, but Could you help me?

Watch out: no to and no -ing after could or may (not Could I to leave…?, not May I leaving…?). Don't answer Yes, you could.: say Yes, you can. or Sure. (Yes, you may. is correct, but it is very formal: a teacher, or a sign.)