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Using modal verbs to ask for, give or refuse permission and make requests.
English uses modal verbs and related expressions to ask for, give, refuse, and discuss permission, as well as to make requests.
Common forms include can, could, may, might, would, will, and be allowed to.
Can I use your phone?
Можно воспользоваться твоим телефоном?
Can for informal permission request.
Could I borrow your pen?
Можно одолжить твою ручку?
Could is more polite/tentative than can.
May I come in?
Можно войти?
May is formal permission request.
Would you help me, please?
Помогите мне, пожалуйста.
Would for polite request.
Can is commonly used to ask for or give permission, especially in informal situations.
For example, Can I use your phone? and You can leave early today.
Can I use your phone?
Можно воспользоваться твоим телефоном?
Asking for permission informally.
You can leave early today.
Ты можешь уйти сегодня рано.
Giving permission with can.
Can we sit here?
Можно нам сесть здесь?
Informal permission request.
Could can be used to ask for permission in a more tentative or polite way than can.
For example, Could I borrow your pen? is generally more tentative than Can I borrow your pen?
Could I borrow your pen?
Можно одолжить твою ручку?
Polite/tentative permission request.
Could I ask you a question?
Можно задать вам вопрос?
Could is more polite than can.
Could I possibly use your computer?
Можно ли мне, возможно, воспользоваться твоим компьютером?
Could with possibly increases politeness.
May is a formal way of asking for or giving permission.
For example, May I come in? and You may begin the examination.
May I come in?
Можно войти?
Formal permission request.
You may begin the examination.
Вы можете начинать экзамен.
Giving permission formally.
May I use the restroom?
Можно воспользоваться туалетом?
Polite formal request.
Might can be used in very formal or highly tentative requests for permission.
For example, Might I ask you a question? This use is much more formal than Can I? or Could I?
Might I ask you a question?
Могу ли я задать вам вопрос?
Very formal/tentative permission request.
Might I be excused for a moment?
Можно мне отлучиться на минутку?
Extremely polite/formal.
Might I suggest an alternative?
Могу ли я предложить альтернативу?
Formal polite request for permission to speak.
Be allowed to expresses permission in different tenses and grammatical structures.
For example, We are allowed to park here, We were allowed to leave early, and We will be allowed to enter tomorrow.
We are allowed to park here.
Нам разрешено здесь парковаться.
Present permission with be allowed to.
We were allowed to leave early.
Нам разрешили уйти рано.
Past permission with were allowed to.
We will be allowed to enter tomorrow.
Нам разрешат войти завтра.
Future permission.
Past permission can be expressed with could, was or were allowed to, depending on whether the meaning is general or specific.
Could commonly describes general past permission, while was or were allowed to is often used for a specific past permission.
When I was a child, I could stay up late on weekends.
В детстве мне можно было поздно ложиться по выходным.
Could for general past permission.
Yesterday, I was allowed to leave work early.
Вчера мне разрешили уйти с работы пораньше.
Specific past permission with was allowed to.
We were not allowed to take photos inside the museum.
Нам не разрешали фотографировать внутри музея.
Past prohibition with not allowed to.
Could commonly refers to general permission in the past, while was or were allowed to often refers to a specific permission or situation.
Compare When I was a child, I could stay up late on weekends with Yesterday, I was allowed to leave work early.
When I was a child, I could stay up late on weekends.
В детстве мне можно было поздно ложиться по выходным.
Could: general permission in the past.
Yesterday, I was allowed to leave work early.
Вчера мне разрешили уйти с работы пораньше.
Was allowed to: specific past permission.
In my old school, we could not use phones during lessons.
В моей старой школе нам нельзя было пользоваться телефонами на уроках.
General past prohibition with could not.
Use will be allowed to or another appropriate future expression when referring to future permission.
For example, You will be allowed to enter after the inspection.
You will be allowed to enter after the inspection.
Вам разрешат войти после проверки.
Future permission with will be allowed to.
They won't be allowed to use their phones during the exam.
Им не разрешат пользоваться телефонами во время экзамена.
Future prohibition.
Next month, employees will be allowed to work remotely.
В следующем месяце сотрудникам разрешат работать удалённо.
Future permission.
Can, may, and be allowed to can be used to grant permission.
For example, You can use my computer, You may begin, and Employees are allowed to work remotely.
You can use my computer.
Ты можешь воспользоваться моим компьютером.
Giving permission with can.
You may begin.
Вы можете начинать.
Formal permission with may.
Employees are allowed to work remotely.
Сотрудникам разрешено работать удалённо.
Permission with be allowed to.
Permission can be refused using cannot, may not, must not, or not be allowed to, depending on the intended meaning.
For example, You cannot park here, You may not enter this area, and Visitors are not allowed to use this door.
You cannot park here.
Здесь нельзя парковаться.
Refusing permission with cannot.
You may not enter this area.
Вам нельзя входить в эту зону.
Formal refusal with may not.
Visitors are not allowed to use this door.
Посетителям не разрешается пользоваться этой дверью.
Prohibition with not allowed to.
Cannot and must not can both prevent an action, but they express different meanings.
Cannot can express lack of permission or inability, while must not specifically expresses prohibition.
You cannot park here.
Здесь нельзя парковаться.
Cannot: lack of permission or possibility.
You must not smoke in the building.
В здании категорически запрещено курить.
Must not: strong prohibition.
I can't open the door.
Я не могу открыть дверь.
Cannot for inability, not prohibition.
Can is commonly used for everyday requests.
For example, Can you help me? and Can you pass the salt?
Can you help me?
Ты можешь мне помочь?
Everyday request.
Can you pass the salt?
Можешь передать соль?
Simple request.
Can you tell me the time?
Можешь сказать мне время?
Informal request.
Could is commonly used for polite requests and is generally less direct than can.
For example, Could you open the window? and Could you send me the file?
Could you open the window?
Не могли бы вы открыть окно?
Polite request with could.
Could you send me the file?
Не могли бы вы прислать мне файл?
Polite request.
Could you help me with this?
Не могли бы вы помочь мне с этим?
Less direct than can.
Would is commonly used in polite requests, especially when asking someone to do something.
For example, Would you open the window? and Would you send me the report?
Would you open the window?
Вы не могли бы открыть окно?
Polite request with would.
Would you send me the report?
Вы не могли бы прислать мне отчёт?
Polite request.
Would you mind helping me?
Вы не поможете мне?
Would you mind + gerund.
Will can be used to make requests, especially when asking whether someone is willing to do something.
For example, Will you help me with this box? and Will you close the door?
Will you help me with this box?
Ты поможешь мне с этой коробкой?
Will for willingness request.
Will you close the door?
Ты закроешь дверь?
Request with will.
Will you please wait here?
Подождите здесь, пожалуйста.
Will + please for request.
Can you, could you, and would you can all make requests, but they may differ in directness, politeness, and context.
Could you and Would you are often perceived as more polite or less direct than Can you.
Can you help me?
Ты можешь мне помочь?
Direct everyday request.
Could you help me?
Не могли бы вы мне помочь?
More polite/tentative than can.
Would you help me?
Вы не поможете мне?
Polite, often used when asking willingness.
Please can be added to modal requests to make the request explicit and often more polite.
For example, Could you please send me the document? and Please can you wait here?
Could you please send me the document?
Не могли бы вы, пожалуйста, прислать мне документ?
Please with could for polite request.
Please can you wait here?
Пожалуйста, подождите здесь.
Please at start of can request.
Would you please be quiet?
Не могли бы вы, пожалуйста, вести себя тише?
Please with would.
Requests can be made less directly by using introductory expressions and questions.
For example, Could you possibly help me? and Would you mind opening the window?
Could you possibly help me?
Не могли бы вы, возможно, помочь мне?
Possibly softens request.
Would you mind opening the window?
Вы не возражаете открыть окно?
Indirect request with would you mind.
I wonder if you could help me.
Мне интересно, не могли бы вы мне помочь.
Indirect, polite request.
Would you mind is followed by a gerund when asking someone to do something.
For example, Would you mind closing the door? A response such as No, not at all means that the person does not object.
Would you mind closing the door?
Вы не возражаете закрыть дверь?
Would you mind + gerund.
Would you mind helping me with this?
Вы не поможете мне с этим?
Gerund after mind.
Would you mind waiting for a moment?
Вы не возражаете подождать минутку?
Polite request.
Can can express either permission or ability, so context determines the intended meaning.
Compare Can you swim? for ability with Can I leave early? for permission.
Can you swim?
Ты умеешь плавать?
Can for ability.
Can I leave early?
Можно мне уйти рано?
Can for permission.
Can he speak French?
Он говорит по-французски?
Ability interpretation depending on context.
Can may express permission or general possibility, while may can express possibility as well as permission.
Context distinguishes meanings such as You can leave now and It may rain later.
You can leave now.
Ты можешь уйти сейчас.
Can for permission.
It may rain later.
Позже может пойти дождь.
May for possibility.
He can be very funny.
Он бывает очень смешным.
Can for general possibility.
Different expressions of permission are appropriate in different contexts.
Can is common in everyday conversation, while may and be permitted to are more formal in many contexts.
Can I use your phone?
Можно воспользоваться твоим телефоном?
Informal.
May I use your phone?
Можно воспользоваться вашим телефоном?
Formal.
You are permitted to enter this area.
Вам разрешено входить в эту зону.
Very formal permission.
Formal rules often express permission and prohibition with may, may not, be permitted to, be allowed to, and must not.
For example, Visitors may use the library and Food must not be taken into the laboratory.
Visitors may use the library.
Посетители могут пользоваться библиотекой.
Formal rule giving permission.
Food must not be taken into the laboratory.
Еду запрещено проносить в лабораторию.
Prohibition in formal notice.
Passengers are not allowed to smoke on the platform.
Пассажирам не разрешается курить на платформе.
Formal prohibition.
Choose the modal or permission expression according to the intended meaning, time reference, and level of politeness.
Common mistakes include confusing permission with ability, using could for a specific past permission when was allowed to is more appropriate, confusing must not with do not have to, and using incorrect patterns after would you mind.
Can I to leave early?
Можно мне уйти рано?
Incorrect: no "to" after modal; "Can I leave early?"
Could he to borrow your car?
Можно ему одолжить твою машину?
Incorrect: no "to" after could.
I could leave early yesterday.
Вчера мне можно было уйти рано.
For specific past permission, use "was allowed to leave early".
You must not bring food.
Тебе нельзя приносить еду.
Correct: must not for prohibition. But note "don't have to" would mean no obligation, not prohibition.
Would you mind to open the window?
Вы не возражаете открыть окно?
Incorrect: use gerund "opening", not infinitive.