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Learning Objectives

2 minutes reading
✓
Ask for permission politely with can, could, and may
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Express ability using can and be able to
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Use could for past ability and polite requests
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Discuss availability and resource planning
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Key for this lesson

Can = ability + informal permission. Could = polite permission + past ability. Be able to = ability in all tenses.

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Grammar Explanation

4 minutes reading
Permission

Asking for Permission

Can/Could/May + I + base verb?

Informal: "Can I use your laptop?"

Polite: "Could I leave early today?"

Formal: "May I ask a question?"

Can I...?Could I...?May I...?
Ability

Expressing What You Can Do

Can + verb / Be able to + verb

Present: "I can speak French."

Future: "Will you be able to join?"

Past: "I was able to finish on time."

cancouldbe able to
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Politeness Scale

Can I...? (casual) → Could I...? (polite) → May I...? (formal). Use "could" with managers and clients!

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Context & Professional Usage

5 minutes reading

Permission Requests

🏖️Leave: "Could I take Friday off?"
📅Scheduling: "Can I reschedule our meeting?"
🖨️Resources: "May I use the conference room?"
📞Calls: "Could I put you on hold?"

Ability & Availability

👤Skills: "I can manage large budgets."
📊Future: "Will you be able to join the call?"
✅Past success: "We were able to meet the deadline."
🌐Languages: "She can speak three languages."
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Business English Examples

6 minutes reading
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Correct Professional Usage

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"Could I borrow your charger?"

Polite permission request

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"Will you be able to attend the conference?"

Future ability

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"I was able to resolve the issue quickly."

Past ability - specific achievement

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"She can work independently and is able to manage multiple projects."

Skills description

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Common Business Mistakes

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"Can I take Friday off?" (to manager)

Use: "Could I take Friday off?" (more polite)

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"I could finish the report yesterday."

Use: "I was able to finish..." (past achievement)

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"Will you can join the meeting?"

Use: "Will you be able to join?" (can't combine modals)

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Professional Listening Exercise

6 minutes

Listen to a scheduling conversation between colleagues:

🎵Audio: Scheduling Discussion
Ready
0:00 / 0:00
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Speed:

Manager: Hi Lisa. Could I have a word about next week's schedule?

Lisa: Of course. What would you like to discuss?

Manager: Will you be able to lead the client presentation on Tuesday?

Lisa: I'm not sure. Could I check my calendar first? I might have a conflict.

Manager: Sure. Let me know by end of day. Also, can you speak German?

Lisa: Yes, I can. I was able to use it when I worked in Munich last year. Why do you ask?

Manager: Our Berlin team needs support. Could you join their calls occasionally?

Lisa: I'd be happy to help. Can I ask - will I be able to expense any travel costs?

Manager: Absolutely. May I also ask if you could mentor the new hire? She can handle basic tasks, but she isn't able to manage complex projects yet.

Lisa: Of course. Could I meet her first to understand her experience level?

Manager: Perfect. I'll set that up.

Question 1: What does the manager ask Lisa to lead?

Question 2: Can Lisa speak German?

Question 3: Complete: "_____ I check my calendar first?"

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Quick Comprehension Quiz

4 minutes
1

Polite request to your manager for time off:

ACan I take tomorrow off?
BCould I take tomorrow off?
CI take tomorrow off?
2

Asking about future availability:

AWill you can attend?
BWill you be able to attend?
CCould you attend?
3

Describing a past achievement:

AI could finish on time.
BI was able to finish on time.
CI can finished on time.
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Professional Practice Exercises

7 minutes

Exercise A: Choose the correct form

1. _______ I leave the meeting early? (polite)

2. _______ you _______ attend the conference next week? (future ability)

3. She _______ speak Japanese fluently. (present ability)

4. We _______ complete the project despite the challenges. (past achievement)

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Speaking Preparation

4 minutes
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Preparation for Class

Practice asking for permission and describing abilities.

🙋 Task 1: Permission Requests (1 min)

Practice polite permission requests: Could I...? May I...?

💪 Task 2: Skills (2 min)

Describe your professional skills using can and be able to.

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Module 3 Complete!

Key structures: Must/Have to (obligation), Should (advice), Could/May (permission), Be able to (ability)
Next: Module 4 - Polite Requests and Communication

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