Est-ce que je peux…?

Asking for something/offering to help.

Can I…?

• Can is an example of a modal verb. A modal verb is a verb that always has to be used with another verb. All languages have modal verbs! Can you think (the other verb!!!) of any other modal verbs?

• How do we say Can I… in French?• After this, you have to use the INFINITIVE

of the verb. What’s the infinitive?

Pouvoir – to be able to (can)

• This is a very important verb! It is IRREGULAR. That means it doesn’t follow any rules for making verbs. This is how it is conjugated (changed according to who you are talking about):

Pouvoir

• Je peux = I can• Tu peux = You can (1 person,

informal)• Il/Elle/On peut = He /She/One can• Nous pouvons = We can• Vous pouvez = You can (1 person

formal, plural) • Ils/Elles peuvent = They can

Asking questions

• There are 3 ways to ask a question in French:

• 1) Put “Est-ce que” on the front: Est-ce que je peux…?

• 2) Swap around the verb and the subject: Je peux becomes Peux-je…?

• 3) Raise the tone of your voice at the end:

Je peux avoir un sandwich?