Can + subject + base verb + ?Use can for direct permission questions. The main verb stays in the base form.
Can and Could — Permission
A2Use can and could to ask for permission, and can or can't to give or refuse it. Could sounds more polite; the main verb stays in the base form.
What you'll learn
- Ask for permission with Can I ...? and Can we ...?
- Ask more politely with Could I ...? and Could we ...?
- Give permission with can and refuse it with can't.
- Keep the main verb in the base form after can, could, and can't.
- Choose could for a softer tone and can for a direct tone.
Structure
Could + subject + base verb + ?Use could for a more polite permission question. The main verb stays in the base form.
subject + can + base verbUse can to say the action is allowed.
subject + can't + base verbUse can't to say the action is not allowed.
Build a sentence
Subject
Verb
CouldIuse your phone?
Could I use your phone?
After could, do not add to.
When to use
Ask to do something
Use can or could when you want to leave, sit down, open something, or start an action and need approval first.
Borrow or use
Use permission language when you want to borrow a pen, use a phone charger, or take a chair from another table.
Allow or refuse
Use can to allow an action and can't to stop it. Staff, parents, teachers, and signs often give this kind of message.
Markers
Excuse mepleaseherefor a minuteborrowuse
Common mistakes
Wrong
Can I to open the window?
Correct
Can I open the window?
After can, use the base verb with no to.
Wrong
Could we to sit here?
Correct
Could we sit here?
After could, the next verb stays in the base form.
Wrong
Do can I borrow your charger?
Correct
Can I borrow your charger?
Can already builds the question, so do is not used.
Wrong
You can't brings food inside.
Correct
You can't bring food inside.
After can't, the main verb stays in the base form.
Common misconceptions
❝ Could is only for past time, so it cannot ask for permission now. ❞
Could can ask for permission now. It makes the request more polite, not more past.
❝ Can is wrong for permission because only could is polite enough. ❞
Can is correct for permission. Could is softer, but can is natural in everyday situations.
Skills in this rule (7)
ASK_WITH_CANw5Ask for permission with can
Use Can I ...? or Can we ...? to ask if something is allowed. Choose it for direct everyday requests.
ASK_WITH_COULDw5Ask for permission with could
Use Could I ...? or Could we ...? to ask more politely. The main verb stays in the base form after could.
GIVE_PERMISSION_WITH_CANw4Give permission with can
Use can to say that something is allowed. The structure is subject + can + base verb.
REFUSE_PERMISSION_WITH_CANTw5Refuse permission with can't
Use can't to say that something is not allowed. Keep the main verb in the base form after can't.
BASE_VERB_AFTER_MODALw5Use the base verb after can, could, and can't
After can, could, and can't, the next verb does not change. Do not add to, -s, or a past form.
CHOOSE_CAN_OR_COULD_FOR_TONEw4Choose can or could based on tone
Use can for direct permission questions and could for a softer, more polite tone. Both ask about permission, but the tone changes.
PICK_PERMISSION_CONTEXTSw3Recognize when permission language is needed
Use can or could when asking to do something, enter somewhere, borrow something, or change a plan. The speaker checks if the action is allowed.