Can I borrow the car tonight?
- The language shows this is a fairly easy thing to ask.
- The language shows this is a difficult thing to ask.
I don't suppose you could possibly lend me five dollars?
- The language shows this is an easy thing to ask.
- The language shows this is a difficult thing to ask.
Would you mind tidying up the stockroom?
- The speaker expects the other person to agree.
- The speaker is asking a favour and the other person might refuse.
I was wondering if you could possibly work on Saturday morning?
- The speaker expects the other person to agree.
- The speaker is asking a favour.
May I borrow your pen?
Can I borrow your pen?
- 'May' is much more polite than 'Can'
- 'May' is a little more formal than 'can'
You couldn't change this one hundred dollar note, could you?
- The speaker expects the other person to change it.
- The speaker knows this is inconvenient and is asking a favour.
Would you mind moving to another table?
- This is a teacher arranging a classroom activity.
- This is a waiter asking some diners to move to another table.
I don't suppose you could possibly move to another table. It's just that...
- This is a teacher arranging a classroom activity.
- This is a waiter asking some diners to move to another table.
Would you like to take these files up to Mr Simpkins on the fifth floor?
- This is an invitation
- This is a polite way of telling someone to do something
You are the office manager. You want to delegate a normal task to a member of your staff.
- Would you like to...
- I was wondering if you could possibly...
You are the office manager. You want a member of your staff to do something they are not normally expected to do
- Would you like to...
- Do you think you could possibly...
You have forgotten your wallet. You want a complete stranger to give you a small sum for your bus fare.
- Would you mind lending me a dollar?
- I don't suppose you could possibly lend me a dollar?
