Page 59 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

P e r m i s s i o n , o f f e r s , e t c .
Permission,
etc.
offers,
Д PERMISSION to do something we use can or could:
To ask PERMISSION to do something we use can or could:
JI To ask
Can/Could I take another biscuit?
° • e Can/Could I take another biscuit?
use could to be particularly polite. If we want to put extra pressure on someone to give a
We use could to be particularly polite. If we want to put extra pressure on someone to give a
We
Q Notice that we prefer can/can't rather than could/couldn't to give or refuse permission: and might
where
can't
answer
might
you
or
couldn't.
example,
you
For
use
can
use
we
couldn't
positive answer we can use can't or couldn't. For example, you might use couldn't where you
positive
been
refused
before:
permission has
be
or where
is
likely to
'no',
expect that the answer
expect that the answer is likely to be 'no', or where permission has been refused before:
little
longer?
bit
just
a
stay
Please?
Can't/Couldn't we
Can't/Couldn't we stay just a little bit longer? Please?
• *
To give and refuse permission we use can and can't:
To give and refuse permission we use can and can't:
No, you can't have another chocolate.
You can stay in the spare room.
Okay. You can stay in the spare room.
Okay.
No, you can't have another chocolate.
• *
• *
or
refuse
prefer
we
to
rather
give
that
than
could/couldn't
can/can't
permission:
g Notice
•
(rather than ...no, you couldn't...)
I'm sorry, no, you can't borrow the car tonight, (rather than ...no, you couldn't...)
I'm sorry,no, you can't borrow the cartonight.
• *
give
permission,
refuse
may
English,
or
to
rather
used
can
be
formal
ask,
also
(not)
In rather formal English, may (not) can also be used to ask, give or refuse permission, and might
In
to
be
ask...?').
'Might I
can
can be used to ask permission (e.g. 'Might I ask...?').
the
can
or
use used (for ask permission (e.g. future) and could (for the past) to report permission (see Unit
the
present
We
D B We use can (for the present or the future) and could (for the past) to report permission (see Unit
for more on the choice between can and could in reporting):
49 for more on the choice between can and could in reporting):
49
says that we can borrow his house as long as we leave it clean and tidy.
• * Jim says that we can borrow his house as long as we leave it clean and tidy.
Jim
He said we can/could use the car, too.
• * Hesaid we can/could use the car, too.
the past someone had general permission to do something, that is, to do it at
To report that in in the past someone had general permission to do something, that is, to do it at
To report that
time, we can use either could or was/were allowed to. However, to report permission for
any
any time, we can use either could or was/were allowed to. However, to report permission for
one particular past action, we use was/were allowed to, but not could:
one particular past action, we use was/were allowed to, but not could:
women were not allowed to (or ...couldn't vote.)
• ¢ Last century, women were not allowed tovote.
Last century,
vote, (or ...couldn't vote.)
Ken was allowed to come in. allowed to to report that
(not ...could come in.)
• ¢
Although he didn't have a ticket, Ken was allowed to come in. (not ...could come in.)
Although he didn't have a ticket,
If we use the present perfect, past perfect or an infinitive, we use be allowed to, not can/could:
use
negative
couldn't
sentences,
we
can
or
either
wasn't/weren't
In In negative sentences, we can use either couldn't or wasn't/weren't allowed to to report that
given
general
or particular
situations:
was
not
in
permission
permission was not given in general or particular situations:
open
presents
the
to
allowed
Christmas.
until
couldn't / weren't
• *
We
We couldn't / weren't allowed to open the presents until Christmas.
to,
use
be
the
past
an
we
not
present
allowed
or
infinitive,
perfect,
can/could:
perfect
use
If we
allowed to keep the Roman coins they found
been
in their garden.
They have
They have been allowed to keep the Roman coins they found in their garden.
• *
to travel
on that airline
is
unlikely
allowed
to
again.
be
• *
She is unlikely fo be allowed to travel on that airline again.
She
do
can
or
use
we
OFFER to
making
something,
a
could:
When
When we OFFER to do something, or offer by making a suggestion, we can use can or could:
I* of
bags?
you with your
can/could borrow
“
You can/could borrow my car if you want.
Can/Could I help you with your bags?
• e
Can/Could I help
should:
use
offers that are questions we can or offer by shall • * or You suggestion, we can my car if you want.
also
In
In offers that are questions we can also use shall or should:
for a taxi for you?
• e Shall/Should I phone for a taxi for you?
Shall/Should I phone
we use could or should we sound less certain that the offer will be accepted.
If If we use could or should we sound less certain that the offer will be accepted.
also use shall/should in questions that request confirmation or advice:
We
We also use shall/should in questions that request confirmation or advice:
Shall/Should I put these books over here? shall/should I pass the message to?
• * Shall/Should I put these books over here? • * Who
Who shall/should I pass the message to?
We can use Would (you) like when we make an offer, but not 'Will...':
We can use Would (you) like when we make an offer, but not 'Will...':
Would you like me to get you some water? (not Will you like me...?)
• * Would you like me to get you some water? (not Will you like me...?)
о In requests, too, we can say (I) would like..., but not '(I) will...': this, but this is formal.
qin requests, too, we can say (I) would like..., but not '(D will...":
I would (or 'd) like an orange juice,
(«of I'll like...)
Compare these ways of offering food and drink: you have to eat/drink?)
•
• e | would (or 'd)like an orangejuice. (not I'll like...)
like
(with
can
we)
or
I
use
should
instead
requests
in
of would
We
We can use should (with I or we) instead of would in requests like this, but this is formal.
drink:
offering
of
these
food
and
ways
Compare
will you
have to
eat/drink?
What
What will you have to eat/drink?
(nofWhat would
(not What would you have to eat/drink?)
• *
What would you like to eat/drink?
(not What will you like to eat/drink?)
• ¢ What would you like to eat/drink? (not What will you like to eat/drink?)
Can and could: ability .
Modals in reporting =
could:
Can ability
and
Modals in reporting -=>
=