What does the underlined Modal express in the following sentence?
Can I give you a lift?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 2
The correct answer is Option (2) → offer
"Can I give you a lift?" means the speaker is offering to take the listener somewhere in his car.
| Option | Meaning and use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| (1) capability | Capability is shown by can in statements such as "I can drive". Here the speaker is not asking about his own ability. | My grandfather can read without glasses. |
| (2) offer (answer) | Can I + verb is often used to offer help to someone: "Can I help you?", "Can I carry that bag?" | Can I get you a glass of water? |
| (3) request | A request asks the listener to do something for the speaker ("Can you help me?"). Here the speaker offers to do something for the listener. | Can you pass me the salt, please? |
| (4) permission | "Can I ...?" asks permission when the speaker wants something for himself ("Can I go out?"). Giving someone a lift is an offer of help. | Can I leave early today? |