Common American Phrases in Everyday Contexts (27 page)

Could I come in?
Do you mind if I enter? (Also used with
can
or
may
in place of
could
.)
T
OM
(standing in the doorway):
Hello, I'm with the Internal Revenue Service. Could I come in? M
ARY
: Go ahead, make my day!
B
ILL
: Hi, Tom. What are you doing here? T
OM
: Could I come in? I have to talk to you. B
ILL
: Sure. Come on in.

Could I get by, please?
Would you please allow me space to pass by? (Also used with
can
or
may
in place of
could. May
is almost too polite.)
Poor Bill, trapped at the back of the elevator behind a huge man, kept saying, “Could I get by, please?” But nobody moved
.
“Can I get by, please?” Jane said, squeezing between the wall and a wheelchair.

(Could I) get you something (to drink)?
a way of offering someone a drink, usually an alcoholic drink. (Compare to (Could I) buy you a drink? Also used with
can
or
may
in place of
could
.)
B
ILL
: Hi, Alice! Come on in! Can I get you something to drink? A
LICE
: Just a little soda, if you don't mind
.
W
AITER
: Get you something to drink? J
OHN
: No, thanks. I'll just order now.

(Could I) give you a lift?
Can I offer you a ride to some place? (Also used with
can
or
may
in place of
could
.)
Bill stopped his car at the side of the road where Tom stood. “Can I give you a lift?” asked Bill
.
J
OHN
: Well, I've got to leave. A
LICE
: Me, too. J
OHN
: Give you a lift? A
LICE
: Sure. Thanks.

Could I have a lift?
AND
How about a lift?
Would you please give me a ride (in your car)? (This usually refers to a destination that is the same as the driver's or on the way to the driver's destination. Also used with
can
or
may
in place of
could
.)
B
OB
: Going north? Could I have a lift? B
ILL
: Sure. Hop in. B
OB
: Thanks. That's such a
long walk to the north end of campus.
S
UE
: Can I have a lift? I'm late. M
ARY
: Sure, if you're going somewhere on Maple Street.

Could I have a word with you?
Go to I'd like (to have) a word with you.

Could I have
someone
call you?
a question asked by a telephone answerer when the person the caller is seeking is not available. (The
someone
can be a person's name or a pronoun, or even the word
someone
. Also used with
can
or
may
in place of
could
.)
T
OM
: Bill's not here now. Could I have him call you? B
ILL
: Yeah. Ask him to leave a message on my machine. T
OM
: Sure
.
“Could I have her call you?” asked Mrs. Wilson's secretary.