Sentence Structure – English Grammar Exercises for A1
Polite requests and asking for permission in the office
Choose the best answer (A, B, or C) to complete each sentence.
1 It’s very hot in this office. ______ open the window, please?
(a) Can I
(b) I can
(c) Do I can
2 I forgot my pencil case. ______ borrow a blue pen?
(a) Do I
(b) Can I
(c) Can I to
3 I don’t understand this software. ______ help me for a minute?
(a) Can you
(b) Are you can
(c) You can
4 I feel a bit sick today. ______ go home early, boss?
(a) Can I going
(b) I can go
(c) Can I
5 My computer is updating. ______ use your laptop to check an email?
(a) Can I
(b) Am I can
(c) Do I can
6 The meeting room is very warm. ______ turn on the air conditioner?
(a) Can we to
(b) Can we
(c) We can
7 This box of documents is very heavy. ______ carry it for me?
(a) Can you
(b) Do you can
(c) Can you carrying
8 My phone battery is at 5%. ______ plug my charger in here?
(a) Can I to
(b) Do I
(c) Can I
9 Nobody is sitting at this desk. ______ sit here for the morning?
(a) I can
(b) Can I
(c) Am I
10 I have a dentist appointment next Monday. ______ take the morning off?
(a) Can I
(b) Can I taking
(c) Do I can
11 I am going to the company cafeteria. ______ get you a cup of coffee?
(a) Can me
(b) Can I
(c) Do I
12 Your project sounds very interesting. ______ join the meeting to listen?
(a) Can I
(b) Am I can
(c) Can I joined
13 The printer on the 3rd floor is broken. ______ use the printer on your floor?
(a) Do I
(b) Can I to
(c) Can I
14 People are talking loudly in the hallway. ______ close the door, please?
(a) Can you
(b) You can
(c) Are you
15 I have another call at 3 PM. ______ move our meeting to 4 PM?
(a) Can we moving
(b) Can we
(c) Do we can
16 Colleague: “Can I use your stapler?” – You: “Sorry, you ______. I need it right now.”
(a) don’t
(b) can’t
(c) aren’t can
17 I need a little more time for the budget report. ______ finish it tomorrow morning?
(a) Can I
(b) I can to
(c) Can I finished
18 I can’t find the client’s phone number. ______ show it to me?
(a) Do you can
(b) You can
(c) Can you
19 My desk is completely full of papers. ______ leave my bag in your office?
(a) Can I
(b) Am I
(c) Can I left
20 Manager: “No, you ______ view that document. It is strictly confidential.”
(a) don’t can
(b) cannot
(c) aren’t
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. To ask for permission, we put “Can” before the subject “I”. (b) is a common mistake (using affirmative word order for a question). (c) is a structural error (adding the auxiliary “Do” when “Can” is already a modal auxiliary).
2 b
Explanation: (b) is correct (“Can I”). (a) is a common mistake (“Do I” asks a general question, not for permission). (c) is a structural error (“can” must be followed directly by a base verb, never with “to”).
3 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. We use “Can you” to ask someone to do something. (c) is a common mistake. (b) is a structural error (mixing the “to be” verb “are” with “can”).
4 c
Explanation: (c) is correct. (b) is a common mistake. (a) is a structural error (using an “-ing” verb after “Can”).
5 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. Asking politely to use a colleague’s item. (b) is a structural error. (c) is a structural error (double auxiliary).
6 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. “Can we” asks for permission for a group. (c) is a common mistake. (a) is a structural error (“Can we to”).
7 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. Requesting help with a heavy object. (c) is a common mistake (adding “-ing” after the subject). (b) is a structural error.
8 c
Explanation: (c) is correct. Asking permission to use a power outlet. (b) is a common mistake. (a) is a structural error.
9 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. (a) is a common mistake (statement word order). (c) is a structural error (using “Am I” instead of a modal verb for permission).
10 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. Asking the boss for time off. (b) is a common mistake (using V-ing). (c) is a structural error.
11 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. “Can I” is also used to offer help politely. (c) is a common mistake. (a) is a structural error (using object pronoun “me” instead of subject pronoun “I”).
12 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. (c) is a common mistake (using past tense “joined” after “Can”). (b) is a structural error.
13 c
Explanation: (c) is correct. (a) is a common mistake. (b) is a structural error (using “to” after the subject).
14 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. Asking a colleague to perform an action. (b) is a common mistake. (c) is a structural error (missing the main verb).
15 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. Suggesting a change of plan using “Can we”. (a) is a common mistake. (c) is a structural error.
16 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. The negative short response to “Can I…” is “No, you can’t”. (a) is a common mistake (using “don’t” to answer a “can” question). (c) is a structural error.
17 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. (c) is a common mistake (using past tense after “Can”). (b) is a structural error.
18 c
Explanation: (c) is correct. Requesting information. (b) is a common mistake. (a) is a structural error.
19 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. (c) is a common mistake (using irregular past “left” instead of base verb “leave”). (b) is a structural error.
20 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. “Cannot” (or can’t) is used to strictly deny permission. (c) is a common mistake (mixing “to be” in a modal sentence). (a) is a structural error.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 Asking for Permission: In an office environment, the safest and most common way to ask for permission or request a favor at a basic level is to place the word “Can” before the Subject.
- Example: Can I open the window?
- Example: Can you help me?
2 Golden Rules for Modal Verbs: * NEVER add the auxiliary verb “Do/Does” (Incorrect: Do I can…).
- NEVER use them with the “To Be” verb (Incorrect: Am I can…).
- The main verb following the subject must be in its BASE FORM (without “to”). Do not add “to”, “-ing”, or “-ed”. (Incorrect: Can I to use… / Can I using… -> Correct: Can I use…)
3 Responses: When refusing a request containing “Can”, you must also use the negative form of “Can”, which is “can’t” or “cannot” (do not use don’t or aren’t).