Modal Verbs: Requests, Orders, Offers, and Permission

Requests and Orders

We use can / could / will / would + you + base verb to make requests or orders:

Can you say that again?
Could you bring me a plate from the kitchen?
Will you please tidy up your bedroom?
While the band is setting up, would you check on the food?

We use a different modal verb depending on how polite or formal we want to be:

more formal, more polite less formal, less polite

could

Could you please check if there's a larger shirt? (to a sales clerk in a store)

can

Can you explain again, please? (to your boss in a meeting)

would

While I'm setting the table, would you check on the food? (to a friend you're having dinner with)

will

Will you please tidy your bedroom? (a mother to her son)

We use negative modals to make a request sound stronger:

Can’t we open a window? It’s hot in here!

Offers

We use the modal verb can + I + base verb to offer to do things:

Can I get you a sandwich or anything?
I’m driving into town - can I drop you off somewhere?

Permission

We use can / could / may / might + I (or other pronoun / noun) to request permission. We use a different modal verb depending on how polite or formal we want to be:

more formal, more polite less formal, less polite

may / might

May I see your ticket, please?

could

Could I use your phone?

can

Can I have a try of your dessert?

If we want to refuse or deny permission, it is common to give a reason:

A: Could you answer the door, please?
B: I’m sorry, I’m busy in the kitchen.

Tips & Tricks

It can sound rude to use imperative instead of a modal verb:

❌ Check if there’s a larger shirt.
✅ Could you please check if there’s a larger shirt?

References

Grammarly. “Modal Verbs: Definition & Usage Examples | Grammarly Blog.” Modal Verbs: Definition & Usage Examples | Grammarly Blog, Grammarly Blog, 27 Apr. 2023, www.grammarly.com/blog/parts-of-speech/modal-verbs/.
Scrivener, Jim. Teaching English Grammar: What to Teach and How to Teach It. Oxford, Macmillan Education, 2010.