Teacher-made Learner’s Home Task Week 1
School: MANATAD NHS
Grade/Section: 9
Date: _______________________________
Subject Area/s: ENGLISH
I. MELC: EN9G-IVc-23: Express permission, obligation, and prohibition.
II. Objective/s:
Knowledge: Identify the modals expressing permission.
Skills: Use the modals expressing permission.
Attitude: Display open-mindedness in the given task.
III. Subject Matter: MODALS EXPRESSING PERMISSION
IV. References:
English 9 LM, English 9 TG, www.islcollective.com
IV. Procedure:
A. Readings
Modals of PERMISSION
Modal verbs ‘can’, ‘could’ and ‘may’ are used to politely ask for permission, to
make a request, and to offer help to someone.
Asking for permission
Unlike statements, when asking for permission or making a request, we
use reverse order, i.e. the modal verb goes before the subject:
Can / Could / May + subject + the verb
CAN
We often use the modal verb ‘can’ to ask for permission or to make a request:
 Can I have some cookies?
– Yes, you can.
 Can I borrow your pen, please?
– Sure!
 Can I use your bathroom?
– Of course!
‘Can‘ is the least formal of these verbs. We use it when we are asking a friend or someone we
know for something in an informal situation; or if we are asking someone we don’t know for
something which is small or unimportant. For example:
Can I open the window?
COULD
‘Could‘ is a little more polite than ‘can’, so we
can use it in more formal situations, like talking
to your boss or a stranger, or to ask for
something more important:
 Excuse me, could I sit here,
please?
– I’m sorry, but you can’t. This
seat is taken.
 Could I have your attention, sir?
– Sure.
 Could you tell me the way to the town
center, please?
– Of course, it’s straight ahead.
MAY
‘May‘ is similar to ‘could’ but it is even
more polite, and also a little oldfashioned, so it is not used as often.
 May I make an appointment for
Tuesday?
– Yes, you may.
 May I begin?
– Of course.
 May I have a glass of water?
– Sure, here you are.
Note: Like in examples above, we can give someone permission with the
words ‘can’ or ‘may’, or we can say ‘yes’, ‘of course’ or ‘sure.’
Request
We can use the verbs ‘can‘ and ‘could‘ to ask for something.
Like with asking permission, the verb ‘can‘ is used in more informal
situations, while ‘could‘ and ‘may‘ are suitable for polite requests.
 Can you help me lift this box?
 Could I please use your bathroom?
 May I use your phone?
Giving permission
We can use modal verbs ‘can’ and ‘may’ (but NOT ‘could‘) to give
permission or say that someone has permission. The difference
between them is the same as in previous examples: ‘may‘ is a more
formal and polite way of saying that, while ‘can‘ is used in formal
situations.




You can come with us.
Students can sit anywhere.
You may go home now, if you like.
Students may travel free.
To give permission, we can say something like ‘Yes, you can’ or
‘Yes, of course / Yes, no problem.’ ‘Yes, you may’ is very formal and
not used very often. To refuse permission responses include ‘No,
sorry, you can’t’ and ‘I’m afraid not’. Again, using may not is very
formal and a little old-fashioned, so ‘No, you may not’ is quite
unusual.
Offering help
‘Can’ and ‘may’ can also be used to offer help. ‘May’ is used in more formal situations:
 Can I help you carry those bags? – Yes, please.
 Can I get you a drink? – No, thank you.
 May I take your coat? – Of course.
Sometimes we can use ‘shall’ to see if someone wants you to do something. This verb is
not typical for US English:
 That backpack looks heavy. Shall I carry it for you? (Do you want me to?)
- Yes, please.
 Shall I open the window? (Do you want me to?)
- Good idea, it’s too hot in here.
Let’s summarize:
A. Exercises for Skill Subjects/Analysis Questions using HOTS for content subjects
Exercise 1: CAN YOU?
Directions: Mark (P) for permission, (O) for offer and (R) for request:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
Can I wear your blouse tonight? ( )
Can you bring me those books over there? ( )
Can Sally go out and play with me, Mrs. Cortez? ( )
Can we do something for you? ( )
Can I give you a lift home? ( )
Can you wait for me outside while I get dressed? ( )
Can Marian stay out until 12 tonight? ( )
Can you close the window? ( )
9. Can your kids go with me to the park this afternoon, Amanda? ( )
10. Can you walk the dog for me, please? ( )
11. Can I help you out in the kitchen? ( )
12. Can you take the garbage out, please? ( )
13. Can I help you with your homework? ( )
14. Can you turn the lights off when you leave the room? ( )
15. Can you stop making this terrible noise while I’m studying? ( )
Exercise 2: WHICH IS WHICH?
Directions: Choose and encircle the letter of your answer.
1. Which modal verbs do we usually use to ask for permission?
a) Could / ought
b) Can / could
c) Must / can
d) May /
should
2. Which modal do we most often use to ask permission from other adults?
a) Can
b) Could
c) Might
d) May.
3. When is ‘may’ most often used to ask for permission?
a) Between friends
c) Between two adults
b) Between two children
d) Between a child and an adult
4. Which of these modals is very, very rarely used now to ask for permission?
a) Can
b) Could
c) Might
d) May.
5. What word do we usually NOT use in the reply when someone asks for
permission?
a) Can
b) Could
c) Be allowed to
d) Can't.
B. Assessment/Application:
A. Directions: Read the conversations below and fill in the blanks with the words
and phrases from the lists.
Do you mind if I
here you are
is it OK if I
telling me thanks
could you turn
can I borrow
What’s the problem
go ahead
Conversation 1
A: Yeah?
B: Hello, ........................................... turn the music down, please? It’s one o’clock and I’m
trying to sleep.
A: Oh, sorry. Is that better?
B: Yes, ..................................... . Perhaps I can get some sleep now. Good night.
Conversation 2
A: I’m sorry, ................................ leave early today? I’m going to take my cat to see the
vet.
B: You’re going to take your cat to the vet? What’s the matter with her then?
A: Him. I don’t know. That’s why I’m going to take him to the vet’s.
B: Oh, I see. Sure, ...................................... . Thanks for ...................................... .
Conversation 3
A: David, do you have your mobile phone with you?
B: Um... yes. Why?
A: ............................ it, please? I need to make a quick call to my mother.
B: OK, .............................. .
Conversation 4
A: ...................................... change seats?
B: Yes, all right. ......................................?
A: I can’t see because of the sun.
B: OK, then. Why don’t you sit there, next to Andrea.
B. Directions: Match the sentences (A) with the correct reactions (B). Write the
letter of your answer on the blank space provided for.
A
Answers
B
1. Can I have a glass of water?
a. Yes of course. What about?
2. Is it OK if I make a phone call?
b. Oh, sorry, I said we only have P500
tickets left.
3. Could you say that again,
please?
4. Can I speak to you for a
moment?
5. Do you mind if I look at your
CDs?
6. Is it OK if I miss the English
class tomorrow?
c. Well, all right. If it’s a local call.
7. Could you move over, please?
g. You can borrow some if you want.
8. Do you mind if I turn the TV up?
h. Yes, sorry. I didn’t realise you wanted
to sit down.
d. Oh sure. The remote’s on the table.
e. Well, not really. Why can’t you come?
f.
Of course, there’s a bottle in the
fridge.
C. Directions: Ask someone for permission or request using CAN, COULD or MAY.
The first one is done for you.
1. You’re a child and you formally ask a teacher for permission to leave the room.
Ans.: May I leave the room?
2. You ask your mother for permission to go to a party tonight. You are polite but don’t
use
‘may’.
_______________________________________________________________________
3. You ask for permission not to come early tomorrow. You’re feeling informal.
_______________________________________________________________________
4. You tell your friend that there is a rule against wearing jewellery at school. Don’t use
‘mustn’t’.
_______________________________________________________________________
5. Tell your classmate that it’s not allowed to bring a friend.
_______________________________________________________________________
6. Tell your friend that everyone has permission to wear any kind of socks to school.
_______________________________________________________________________
7. Ask for permission to finish your essay next week. Use a polite negative question.
_______________________________________________________________________
8. Ask for permission to not attend the meeting. You’re feeling polite.
_______________________________________________________________________
9. Ask your friend if you have permission to borrow some money.
_______________________________________________________________________
10. Tell someone that she has permission to take a bottle of water into the exam. You’re
a teacher speaking to a student formally.
______________________________________________________________________
11. Tell your friend that he has permission to have another biscuit.
_______________________________________________________________________
______________________________
_______________________
________________________
Student’s name & signature
Parent’s signature
Teacher’s signature
Date accomplished: ___________________
Address: DepEd Cebu Province, IPHO Bldg,. Sudlon, Lahug, Cebu City
Telephone no.: 032-2556405
Email Address: cebu.province@deped.gov.ph
Date submitted: ___________________