A. Match each request to the correct reply.
1Â Â May I come in?
2Â Â Could you ring back later?
3Â Â Can we meet on Saturday?
4Â Â May I take your number?
5Â Â Can your sister come?
6Â Â Could they buy some bread on the way home?
7Â Â Can I see your homework?
8Â Â Could we try the cake?
9Â Â Can you translate it?
a  I'm not sure. I'll ask her.
b   No, the shop is closed.
c  Sorry, I don't know Italian.
d   Sure, I'll phone again in an hour.
e  Yes, take some. It's very good.
f  No, I'm busy at the weekend.
g  I haven't done it yet.
h   One moment, I'll open the door.
i  Sure. 737 – 52 – 25.
Answers
1 h  2 d  3 f  4 i  5 a  6 b  7 g  8 e  9 c
B. Write sentences asking for permission.
1 Â Â Can I go out, please?
2   ………………………………
3   ………………………………
4   ………………………………
Answers
2 Â Â (Please) Can / Could / May I speak to Sarah (please)?
3 Â Â (Please) Can / Could / May we come home late tonight (please)?
4 Â Â (Please) Can / Could / May I ride your bike (please)?
C. In your notebook, write a request for each situation using can, could, may and the words in brackets. Use may when you need to be very polite.
1Â Â You are in a very expensive cafe. You want a coffee. (I / have)
     May I have a coffee?
2Â Â You are lost. You see an old man with a mobile phone. (I / use)
3Â Â Your computer won't work. Your friend is good with computers. (you / help)
4Â Â You are late for class. You want to go into the room. (I / come in)
5Â Â You want to see your friend after school. (we / meet)
6Â Â You have invited your friend to a party. You like his CD. (you / bring)
7Â Â It is cold. Your friend is in front of an open window. (you / close)
8Â Â You are going to play tennis with a friend. You have the ball. (we / start)
Answers
2 Â Â May I use your mobile (phone)?
3 Â Â Could / Can you help me?
4 Â Â May I come in?
5 Â Â Could / Can we meet after school?
6 Â Â Could/Can you bring your CD?
7 Â Â Could / Can you close the window?
8 Â Â Could / Can we start?
D. These emails to Jim are not polite. In your notebook, write polite versions of them using can, could, may and please.
1  Give me a Sony PlayStation  ?
     Could you please give me a Sony PlayStation? /
     Can you give me a Sony PlayStation, please?
2  Buy me a new bike  ?
3  I want to visit London.  ?
4  Translate this email from my friend in Mongolia.  ?
5  Do my Geography homework.  ?
6  Send my sister a birthday present.  ?
7  I want to go into space.  ?
8  I want to be in the next Spider-Man film.  ?
Answers
2Â Â Could / Can you (please) buy me a new bike (please)?
3Â Â Could / Can / May I (please) visit London (please)?
4Â Â Could / Can you (please) translate this email from my friend in Mongolia (please)?
5Â Â Could / Can you (please) do my Geography homework (please)?
6Â Â Could / Can you (please) send my sister a birthday present (please)?
7Â Â Could / Can / May I (please) go into space (please)?
8Â Â Could / Can / May I (please) be in the next Spider-Man film (please)?
E. In your notebook, write emails to Jim. Make them polite with can, could, may and please.
Examples: Could I meet Roger Federer?
……………………………………………….
……………………………………………….
……………………………………………….
Answers
Possible answers
Could I be President for a day, please?
Please could you lend me 200 euros?
Can I have my own room, please?
F. Circle the correct option.
1   Dear Jim. Can you …………. my friend?
     a be    b being    c to be
2   A: Excuse me. …………. your toilet, please?  B: Yes, of course.
     a May I use
     b May I using
     c May l to use
3  …………. for my sixteenth birthday?
     a May you give me a car
     b Could give you me a car
     c Could you give me a car
4   Dear Jim. Please …………. a new mobile phone?
     a could have my sister
     b could my sister has
     c could my sister have
5   A: Mum? Can we have a dog?   B: No, we …………. .
     a don't     b haven't     c can't
Answers
1 a  2 a  3 c  4 c  5 c