Modals for Offers and Requests

Modals for Offers

To make offers in English, we use the modal verbs: Shall and can

Shall I help you?

Can I help you?

To respond to these offers, we can say:

Positive: Negative:

Yes, thanks. No, I’m OK, thanks.

Yes, that’s really kind of you. Thanks but there’s no need.

Yes, if you don’t mind.

To make requests in English, we use the verbs: can, could and would.

We can also use the construction:

Would you mind v.ing?

For example: Can you close the door?

Could you close the door?

Would you mind closing the door?

Would you close the door?

Could, would and would you mind v.ing are more formal and polite than can.

The table below shows how to answer these questions:

I’m happy to do that.

I’m not happy to that.

Can you close the door?

Would you close the door?

Could you close the door?

Yes, of course.

Yes, no problem.

I’d rather not, if you don’t mind.

Actually, I’d prefer not to.

Would you mind closing the door?

Not at all.

No problem.

I’d rather not, if you don’t mind.

Actually, I’d prefer not to.

Click on the links below to learn more about modal verbs