Lesson · Page 1 of 7
1 · What are "could" and "may"?
"Could" and "may" are small helper words. We put them before a verb.
They help us be polite and talk about things that are maybe true.
The verb after them does not change. It stays simple!
Could you help me? (not: could you helps)
May I sit here? (not: may I to sit)
Easy rule: could / may + verb. No -s, no -ed, no "to".
Look and repeat
could + go → I could go.
may + come → They may come.
Lesson · Page 2 of 7
2 · How to use COULD
a) Ask for something (polite)
Could you open the door, please?
Could I have some water?
b) Say something is possible (maybe)
It could rain today. (maybe yes, maybe no)
She could be at home now.
c) Ability in the past
When I was five, I could swim.
He could read at age four.
Only "could" can talk about the past. "May" can not do this.
Lesson · Page 3 of 7
3 · How to use MAY
a) Ask for permission (very polite)
May I come in?
May I use your pen?
b) Say something is possible (maybe)
It may be cold tonight.
They may come to the party.
Good to know: "May" is a little more polite. We use "May I…?"
with teachers, in shops, or with people we don't know well.
Lesson · Page 4 of 7
4 · What is the difference?
Many times they are the same! Both can ask politely and both can say "maybe".
Here is a simple picture:
| We use it for… | COULD | MAY |
|---|
| Asking politely | Yes ✓ friendly | Yes ✓ very polite |
| Saying "maybe / possible" | Yes ✓ | Yes ✓ |
| Past ability | Yes ✓ I could swim. | No ✗ |
Remember: Only could talks about the past.
May does not do this.
Lesson · Page 5 of 7
5 · Reading time
Read the short story. Find every could and may.
A Day in the Park
It is Saturday. Tom looks out of the window. The sky is grey.
"It may rain today," says Mom. "Take your jacket."
Tom goes to the park with his dog, Max. A girl is there.
"Could I play with your dog?" she asks.
"Yes!" says Tom. "His name is Max."
The girl is happy. "When I was little, I could not run fast,
but now I can!" she says. She runs with Max.
Then Tom feels a drop of water. "Oh no, the rain!
May I share your jacket?" asks the girl.
"Of course," says Tom. They run home and laugh.
Answer these questions
- What may happen today? (snow / rain / sun)
- What does the girl ask Tom first?
- Could the girl run fast when she was little? (yes / no)
See the answers
1. Rain.
2. "Could I play with your dog?"
3. No, she could not.
Lesson · Page 6 of 7
6 · Exercises
10 activities. For past ability, always use could. For permission, may is best.
Exercise A — Choose could or may (1–5)
- When I was a baby, I not walk. (could / may)
- I have a glass of milk, please? (could / may)
- It be hot tomorrow. (could / may)
- My grandpa dance well when he was young. (could / may)
- you help me, please? (could / may)
See the answers (1–5)
1. could 2. May / Could 3. could / may 4. could 5. Could
Exercise B — Make it polite (6–8)
Change the words to a polite question. Use Could or May.
- Open the window. →
- I want to come in. →
- Give me a pen. →
See the answers (6–8)
6. Could you open the window, please?
7. May I come in?
8. Could you give me a pen, please?
Exercise C — Right or wrong? (9–10)
Find the small mistake and fix it.
- Could you helps me, please? →
- May I to sit here? →
See the answers (9–10)
9. Could you help me, please? (no -s)
10. May I sit here? (no "to")
Finished early? ⭐
⭐ Extra Challenge
Great job! Now try these for fun.
① Write 3 sentences about YOU
- One thing you could do when you were five. (I could…)
- One thing that may happen tomorrow. (Tomorrow may…)
- One polite question with May I…?
② More fix-the-mistake
- It may rains today.
- She could to swim last year.
- May you help me, please?
See the answers
1. It may rain today.
2. She could swim last year. (no "to")
3. Could you help me, please? (for asking a favor, use could)
③ Speaking
Ask your partner 3 polite questions with Could you…? Then answer them!