Модальные глаголы Can / Could / Would you ... ? (Просьбы, предложения, разрешение и приглашения)

Мы используем can или could, когда мы просим людей что-нибудь сделать:

• Can you wait a moment, please?
  Вы бы не могли минутку подождать, пожалуйста?

• Liz, can you do me a favour?
  Лиза, ты не окажешь мне услугу?
• Excuse me, could you tell me how to get to the airport?
  Простите, не подскажите как добраться до аэропорта?

Заметьте, что мы говорим Do you think you could ... ? (не can):

• Do you think you could lend me some money until next week?
  Как ты думаешь, ты бы смог мне одолжить денег до следующей недели?

Мы также используем will и would для подобных просьб (но can/could используются чаще):

• Liz, will you do me a favour?
• Would you please be quiet? I’m trying to concentrate.
  Вы бы не могли быть потише, пожалуйста? Я пытаюсь сконцентрироваться.

Спрашивая что-нибудь, мы используем Can I have ... ? или Could I have ... ?:

• (in a shop) Can I have these postcards, please?
  (в магазине) Не могли бы вы дать мне эти открытки? (досл.: могу я взять... ?)
• (during a meal) Could I have the salt, please?

May I have ... ? также можно:

• May I have these postcards, please?

Когда мы спрашиваем, можно ли нам что-нибудь сделать, мы используем can, could или may:

• (on the phone) Hello, can I speak to Steve, please?
• ‘Could I use your phone?’ ‘Yes, of course.’
• Do you think I could borrow your bike?
• ‘May I come in?’ ‘Yes, please do.’

May более формальный модальный глагол, чем can или could.

Вы также можете сказать Do you mind if I ... ? или Is it all right / Is it OK if I ... ?:

• ‘Do you mind if I use your phone?’ ‘Sure. Go ahead.’
  Ты не против, если я воспользуюсь твоим телефоном?
• ‘Is it all right if I come in?’ ‘Yes, of course.’
  Ничего, если я войду?
  

Предлагая сделать что-нибудь, вы можете использовать Can I ... ?:

• ‘Can I get you a cup of coffee?’ ‘That would be nice.’
  ‘Принести тебе чашечку кофе?’ ‘Это было бы здорово.’
• ‘Can I help you?’ ‘No, it’s all right. I can manage.’
  ‘Помочь тебе?’ ‘Нет, спасибо (досл.: всё хорошо). Я сам справлюсь.’

Когда мы предлагаем или приглашаем, мы используем Would you like ... ? (не Do you like):

• ‘Would you like a cup of coffee?’ ‘Yes, please.’
  ‘Хочешь чашечку кофе?’ ‘Да, пожалуйста.’
• ‘Would you like to come to dinner tomorrow evening?’ ‘I’d love to.’
  ‘Не хочешь ли прийти (приглашаю тебя) на ужин завтра вечером?’ ‘С радостью.’

I’d like ... - очень вежливый способ сказать о том, что вы хотите:

• (at a tourist information office) I’d like some information about hotels, please.
  (в туристическом информационном бюро) Я бы хотел получить (кое-какую) информацию об отелях, пожалуйста.
• (in a shop) I’d like to try on this jacket, please.
  (в магазине) Я бы хотел примерить этот пиджак, пожалуйста.

Упражнения

1. Прочитайте ситуации и напишите вопросы, начиная с Can ... или Could ... .

1. You’re carrying a lot of things. You can’t open the door yourself. There’s a man standing near the door. You say to him:
   
2. You phone Sue, but somebody else answers. Sue isn’t there. You want to leave a message for her. You say:
   
3. You’re a tourist. You want to go to the station, but you don’t know how to get there. You ask at your hotel:
   
4. You are in a clothes shop. You see some trousers you like and you want to try them on. You say to the shop assistant:
   
5. You have a car. You have to go the same way as Steve, who is on foot. You offer him a lift. You say to him:
   

2. Прочитайте ситуацию и напишите к ней вопрос, используя слово в скобках.

1. You want to borrow your friend’s camera. What do you say to him? (think)
   
2. You are at a friend’s house and you want to use her phone. What do you say? (all right)
   
3. You’ve written a letter in English. Before you send it, you want a friend to check it for you. What do you ask? (think)
   
4. You want to leave work early. What do you ask your boss? (mind)
   
5. The woman in the next room is playing music. It’s very loud. You want her to turn it down. What do you say to her? (think)
   
6. You’re on a train. The window is open and you’re feeling cold. You’d like to close it, but first you ask the woman next to you. (OK)
   
7. You’re still on the train. The woman next to you has finished reading her newspaper, and you’d like to have a look at it. You ask her. (think)
   

3. Что бы вы сказали в этих ситуациях? (задайте вопрос)

1. Paul has come to see you in your flat. You offer him something to eat.
   YOU:
   PAUL:

   No, thank you. I’ve just eaten.
2. You need help to change the memory card in your camera. You ask Kate.
   YOU:

   I don’t know how to change the memory card.
   
   KATE:

   Sure. It’s easy. All you have to do is this.
3. You’re on a bus. You have a seat, but an elderly man is standing. You offer him your seat.
   YOU:
   MAN:

   Oh, that’s very kind of you. Thank you very much.
4. You’re the passenger in a car. Your friend is driving very fast. You ask her to slow down.
   YOU:

   You’re making me very nervous.
   
   DRIVER:

   Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t realise I was going so fast.
5. You’ve finished your meal in a restaurant and now you want the bill. You ask the waiter:
   YOU:
   WAITER:

   Right. I’ll get it for you now.
6. A friend of yours is interested in one of your books. You invite him to borrow it.
   FRIEND:

   This looks very interesting.
   YOU:

   Yes, it’s a good book.