Collins Cobuild

Unit 87
Offers and invitations
Main points
You use ‘Would you like’ to offer something to someone or to invite
them to do something.
You  use  ‘Can  I’,  ‘Could  I’,  and  ‘Shall  I’  when  you  offer  to  help
someone.
1
When you are offering something to someone, or inviting them to do
something, you use ‘Would you like’.
Would you like a drink?
Would you like to come over to my house for a meal?
Would you like me to take you home?
You can use ‘Will you’ to offer something to someone you know quite
well, or to give an invitation in a fairly informal way.
Will you have another biscuit, Dave?
Will you come to my birthday party on Saturday night?
2
You use ‘Can I’ or ‘Could I’ when you are offering to do something for
someone. ‘Could I’ is more polite.
Can I help you with the dishes?
Could I help you carry those bags?

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You  also  use  ‘Shall  I’  when  you  are  offering  to  do  something,
especially if you are fairly sure that your offer will be accepted.
Shall I shut the door?
Shall I spell that for you?
3
You use ‘I can’ or ‘I could’ to make an offer when you want to say that
you are able to help someone.
I have a car. I can take Daisy and Peter to the station.
I could pay some of the rent.