Offers and requests

OFFER - to ask someone if they would like to have something or if they would like you to do something (ettepanek)

REQUEST - to ask for something politely or officially (palve)

We use could you … and would you … as polite ways of telling or asking someone to do something:

EXAMPLE: Could you take a message, please?

Would you carry this for me, please?

can and will are less polite:

EXAMPLE: Can you take a message, please?

Will you carry this for me, please?

We use can I …, shall I … to make offers:

EXAMPLE: Can I help you? Shall I help you with that?

We sometimes say I can ... or I could ... or I'll (I will) ... to make an offer:

EXAMPLE: I can do that for you if you like.

I could give you a lift to the station.

I'll do that for you if you like.

I'll give you a lift to the station.