Grammar › Modal Verbs › Requests, Offers & Suggestions
Requests, Offers & Suggestions
Different modal patterns for asking, offering and suggesting:
- Request — Can/Could/Would you…? (Could you open the window?).
- Offer — Shall I…? / Can I…? / I'll… (Shall I help?).
- Suggestion — Shall we…? / Let's… / Why don't we…? / How about + -ing?
Could/Would are more polite than can. 'Shall I/we…?' is common in British English for offers and suggestions.
Requests, offers and suggestions
| Function | Patterns | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Request (ask someone) | Can/Could/Would you…? | Could you help me? |
| Offer (I do it) | Shall I…? / Can I…? / I’ll… | Shall I carry that? |
| Suggestion (we do it) | Shall we…? / Let’s… / Why don’t we…? / How about + -ing? | Why don’t we eat out? |
Could and would are more polite than can.
When to use each
1. Requests — ask someone to do something
- Could you turn the music down? Would you mind waiting?
2. Offers — offer to do something yourself
- Shall I open the window? I’ll get the door.
3. Suggestions — propose doing it together
- Let’s take a break. How about meeting at six? Why don’t we share a taxi?
⚠️ Match the form: How about + -ing (How about going?) but Why don’t we + base verb (Why don’t we go?).
Common mistakes
1. ‘How about’ + base verb. How about go out? → How about going out?
2. ‘Let’s’ + to. Let’s to start → Let’s start.
3. Using ‘Shall I’ for a suggestion together. Shall I we go? → Shall we go? (offer = Shall I; suggestion = Shall we). Pro tip: request = Could/Would you; offer = Shall I; suggestion = Shall we / Let’s / Why don’t we.
✏️ Practice: Requests, Offers & Suggestions
1. ___ you help me with this box, please? (polite request)
2. ___ I carry that bag for you? (offer)
3. ___ go to the beach this weekend. (suggestion)
4. ___ meeting at seven instead? (suggestion)
5. ___ we share a taxi? (suggestion)
6. ___ you mind opening the window? (very polite request)
7. I'm tired. — ___ I make you a coffee? (offer)
8. Correct this: 'How about go to the cinema?'
9. Correct this: 'Let's to start now.'
10. Which is an OFFER (you do it)?
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a polite request?
Use Could you…? or Would you…?: Could you pass the salt? Would you mind opening the door? These are more polite than 'Can you…?'.
How do I offer to do something?
Use Shall I…?, Can I…?, or I'll…: Shall I call a taxi? Can I get you anything? I'll do the dishes.
How do I suggest doing something together?
Use Shall we…?, Let's…, Why don't we…?, or How about + -ing?: Let's go out. Why don't we cook? How about watching a film?
What follows 'How about' and 'Why don't we'?
'How about' + -ing (How about leaving now?); 'Why don't we' + base verb (Why don't we leave now?).
👩🏫 For teachers
CEFR objectives for “Requests, Offers & Suggestions”:
- Can make requests with Can/Could/Would you…? (CEFR A2).
- Can offer with Shall I…?, Can I…?, I'll….
- Can suggest with Shall we…?, Let's…, Why don't we…?, How about + -ing.
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