 you today. This is Marc. I'm doing just great. Thanks for asking. I have three questions. Can I ask a question? Could we just concentrate on this lesson? And may I open the window? It's really hot in here. In this lesson we're going to delve into making requests. So stay tuned. So I need to start this lesson by describing a modal verb. Well, a modal verb is like an auxiliary verb. If you don't know what an auxiliary verb is, there is a lesson on my playlist. You can click here to watch that lesson. But a modal verb is like an auxiliary verb that helps other verbs with their meanings. We have can, could, may, might and so on. You won't find a modal verb without a main verb. We always need a verb, another verb, to with a modal verb. To make a positive sentence we need the subject plus the modal verb plus the base of the verb without to plus the object. So for example, I can read a book. So for a negative sentence we make the same sentence, the same example sentence, but in the negative we need the subject plus the modal verb plus not plus the base of the verb plus the object. I can't read a book in Russian, for example. I can't read a book in Russian. For an interrogative sentence we need the WH question word if there is who, where, how, etc. plus the modal verb plus the subject plus the base of the verb and then whatever is next. Can I help you? Can I help you? So for informal requests or to ask for permission we use can I or can we. Just like my example, can I ask a question? Can I ask a question? This is a permission, I'm asking for permission. Can we go out tonight? This is informal, obviously. We're talking about informal language so you can say this to a friend, no? Can we go out tonight? You're asking for permission. If you're asking something on behalf of somebody else you can use he, she, they, of course. So can she come over? Can she come over or can they borrow your books? Can they borrow your books? Now there is one thing that I want to tell you about can. Can is pronounced in American English can. In British English is pronounced can. For the negative it can be confusing so for American English we prefer to say cannot because can't is the T would be missing sometimes, you know, when you speak very fast. Is that in British English is can't so is easily recognizable. Now let's take a look at the second point that I wrote here and we use to sound more polite obviously the modal verb changes here and it is could. Could we concentrate on this lesson please? I would always add please. Maybe please sometimes is not needed but mostly we use please so to sound more formal. Could we concentrate on this lesson please? I will say this to to my students for example or at a meeting at a business meeting some people need to go out of a meeting and they say could we interrupt for a second? Could we interrupt for a second? Now the third point if you want to sound more persuasive you can use can't or cannot in American English can't in British English and or couldn't so can't we listen to some music or can't we listen to some music or we couldn't. Couldn't we stay here for a bit? Couldn't we stay here for a bit for example at a library you want to stay longer and people need to close it for the day and you ask couldn't we stay here for a bit? So the fourth point is when to use may and might. May and might are very very formal. I gave you the example may I open the window may I open the window this is the correct form but now since language has changed we can say can I open the window with might instead might is very very formal very very formal and you rarely find it in questions but I gave you a question anyway and an example question it will be might I speak to the manager please might I speak to the manager please now I'm going to erase this and I'm going to look at two other points on making requests yes we're back with the other two points and the fifth point that I want to talk about is that another way to make the request more polite is to add perhaps or possibly after the subject just like my examples could we possibly watch TV now could we possibly watch TV now and so possibly makes the the question or the request more polite so the other example may I perhaps speak to you a minute please may I perhaps my here perhaps makes a request more polite speak to you a minute please so for the last point is that to make a request indirectly so without making a direct question we can use would like or should like in affirmative sentences just like my two examples I would like to ask you a question I would like to ask you a question if you wish to watch a lesson on wood you may click here or we can say we should like the roast beef for our main dish we are at a restaurant and so we ask for the roast beef right and so we can say we should like the roast beef for our main dish this is very formal okay too so it depends when and how you want to use it so if you like to watch a lesson on should you may click here so if you have any questions or requests you may type them under this video if you wish to share the lesson you may do so if you haven't subscribed to my channel please do so next week you'll get a new lesson and having said that have a great day and see you next week with a new lesson bye bye