All English 4U · Intermediate Grammar · Unit 37 · B1–B2
Requests, Offers and Invitations
The Community Lantern Workshop
100% Original Practice Test · 44 questions · requests, permission, offers, invitations and preferences.
0 / 44 answered
Quick Grammar Guide
At the Community Lantern Workshop, a friendly tone helps requests, offers and invitations feel considerate. Choose the expression that fits the purpose, then check the verb pattern that follows it.
1. How to Form It
Start with the speaker's purpose: ask someone, ask permission, offer help, invite someone or state a preference.
Requests and permission
Structure: Can/Could/Would you + base verb; Would you mind + -ing; May/Can/Could I + base verb
Positive: Could you steady this frame, please?
Negative: Would you mind not moving the paint pots?
Question: May I use the clean brush?
Meaning: Can is friendly and direct; could and would often sound more tentative. Mind takes an -ing form. Modal verbs are followed by the base verb.
Permission with if
Structure: Do you mind if I + present simple; Would you mind if I + past simple
Positive: Do you mind if I sit near the door?
Negative: Would you mind if I didn't switch on the heater?
Question: Would you mind if I borrowed a cloth?
Meaning: Use Do you mind if I for a present-time question with present simple. Would you mind if I conventionally takes past simple for a tentative request about now.
Offers, invitations and preferences
Structure: Shall I/we + base verb; Would you like + noun / to + verb; I'd like + noun / to + verb; Let me + base verb
Positive: Shall we stack the lantern boxes?
Negative: No, thank you. I would rather finish this lantern first.
Question: Would you like a seat by the window?
Meaning: Shall I/we offers help or suggests a shared action. Use a noun after Would you like for a thing and to + verb for an activity. Let me volunteers the speaker.
2. Clue Words & Patterns
Notice what comes immediately after the expression; that word often tells you which structure to use.
Could you lower the paper screen?
Could is followed by the bare form lower.
Would you mind tying this knot?
After mind, use the gerund tying.
Do you mind if I take a photo of the display?
The present-time Do you mind pattern uses present simple take.
Would you like a lantern? / Would you like to paint one?
A noun follows directly; an activity takes to + base verb.
Shall I bring more cups? / Let me clear this tray.
Both patterns take a base verb: bring and clear.
Would you mind if I sat here? – No, not at all. Please do.
No, not at all means the person does not object and grants permission. A bare yes/no can be confusing; give a clear response.
3. Watch Out & Common Mistakes
Check the words directly after mind, a modal, and like before you finish.
Adding to after a modal
Wrong: Could you to open the storeroom?
Better: Could you open the storeroom?
Could is followed by a base verb without to.
Using an infinitive after mind
Wrong: Would you mind to wait here?
Better: Would you mind waiting here?
Mind takes an -ing form.
Follow the stated permission pattern
Wrong: Would you mind if I moving this stool?
Better: Would you mind if I moved this stool?
Use a finite verb after if I. These tasks practise the conventional past-simple form with Would you mind if I. Do you mind if I uses present simple for permission now; other forms can occur in different contexts.
Leaving out to before an activity
Wrong: Would you like come to the workshop?
Better: Would you like to come to the workshop?
An activity after Would you like needs to + base verb.
Adding to after let me
Wrong: Let me to carry those boards.
Better: Let me carry those boards.
Let me is followed by the bare infinitive.
Complete the request: Would you mind ___ (hold) the door while I bring the lanterns?
holding. Mind is followed by an -ing form.
Ask permission to take a photograph now using Do you mind if I + present simple.
Do you mind if I take a photograph? Use present simple take after if I.
Invite a neighbour to help using Would you like + to-infinitive.
Would you like to help? Use to + base verb for an activity.
Before answering: identify who will act. Requests ask the listener to act; permission concerns the speaker; offers volunteer help; invitations welcome someone; preferences express a personal wish. Then check the verb pattern.
Part 1 – Identify the purpose
Type ONE label: request, permission, offer, invitation or preference. Use the situation to identify the purpose of the speaker's words.
A guest asks a volunteer to do something.
1. Could you pin this lantern design to the board, please?
Purpose:
A visitor wants approval for her own action.
2. May I leave my bicycle beside the workshop gate?
Purpose:
A volunteer is willing to do a task for the organiser.
3. Shall I collect the empty paint trays for you?
Purpose:
The organiser asks a neighbour to attend an event.
4. Would you like to come to our lantern exhibition on Sunday?
Purpose:
A participant says what he personally wants.
5. I would like to decorate a small lantern first.
Purpose:
A visitor asks whether her own action is acceptable.
6. Would you mind if I took a photograph of your display?
Purpose:
The organiser needs help from the listener.
7. Would you mind putting the wet brushes in this jar?
Purpose:
A volunteer steps forward to do the task herself.
8. Let me check the battery lights before we start.
Purpose:
Part 2 – Complete the workshop exchange
Write the full missing expression. Follow the cue and the explicit form note.
Friendly request; can + subject + base verb.
Cue: Can + you + pass
9. me the twine, please?
Polite request; would you mind + -ing.
Cue: Would you mind + hold
10. this lantern while I tie the handle?
Permission now; do you mind if I + present simple.
Cue: Do you mind if I + use
11. the craft scissors?
Tentative permission; would you mind if I + past simple.
Cue: Would you mind if I + borrow
12. your pencil for the sign?
Ask permission with could + I + base verb.
Cue: Could + I + switch
13. on the small fan?
Suggest a joint action; shall we + base verb.
Cue: Shall we + sort
14. the finished lanterns by colour?
Invitation to do an activity; would you like + to-infinitive.
Cue: Would you like + join
15. our lantern walk on Friday?
State your own preference with I'd like + noun.
Cue: I would like + a green lantern
16. for the front table.
Volunteer with let me + base verb.
Cue: Let me + carry
17. the finished display outside.
Request with would you + base verb.
Cue: Would you + turn
18. the lantern toward the label, please?
Part 3 – Choose the suitable expression
Choose the ONE option that matches the situation and the stated grammar cue.
The organiser asks a volunteer to pass a brush; use could you + base verb.
Mina asks permission to use a table now; use may I + base verb.
A guest is offered tea; use Would you like + noun.
A volunteer offers to carry a box; use shall I + base verb.
Ask if it is acceptable to move the sign now; cue: Do you mind if I + present simple.
Make a tentative request about changing the music; cue: Would you mind + -ing.
The speaker volunteers to check the guest list; use let me + base verb.
Invite the listener to attend; use Would you like + to-infinitive.
Part 4 – Put the words in order
Arrange every supplied word or phrase to make the polite expression. Start with the provided opening cue.
Request; can + you + base verb. Begin: Can you.
27. Build the sentence.
Word bank: you / lanterns / these / paper / fold / Can
Permission; could + I + base verb. Begin: Could I.
28. Build the sentence.
Word bank: leave / I / the / Could / in / my / office / coat
Tentative request; would you mind + -ing. Begin: Would you.
29. Build the sentence.
Word bank: painting / one / star / you / mind / more / Would
Present-time permission; do you mind if I + present simple. Begin: Do you.
30. Build the sentence.
Word bank: mind / if / I / you / this / open / window / Do
Offer; shall we + base verb. Begin: Shall we.
31. Build the sentence.
Word bank: the / hang / Shall / the / lanterns / path / we / along
Invitation; would you like + to-infinitive. Begin: Would you.
32. Build the sentence.
Word bank: the / Would / help / at / workshop / you / like / to
Part 5 – Repair the marked words
Replace ONLY the underlined words with the correct word or words. Do not type the complete sentence.
One verb-form error in a can request.
33. Can you to bring the lantern hooks?
Correct words:
One verb-form error after would you mind.
34. Would you mind to wipe the paint from this table?
Correct words:
One tense-form error; the cue is Would you mind if I + past simple.
35. Would you mind if I move your chair for a moment?
Correct words:
One verb-form error after may I.
36. May I to borrow the spare scissors?
Correct words:
One missing-to error in an invitation to do an activity.
37. Would you like join our lantern parade?
Correct words:
One verb-form error after let me.
38. Let me to hold the ladder while you tie the string.
Correct words:
Part 6 – Listen and complete the expression
Listen to each original workshop recording. Type ONE missing word exactly as spoken.
At the community workshop. The organiser needs the thread.
39. Listen and complete.
you pass me the silver thread, please?
At the community workshop. One lantern needs support.
40. Listen and complete.
Would you mind this lantern for a second?
At the community workshop. The bench is too dark.
41. Listen and complete.
Do you mind if I on the work light?
At the community workshop. A visitor needs a marker.
42. Listen and complete.
Would you mind if I your blue marker?
At the community workshop. The lanterns are ready to move.
43. Listen and complete.
I carry the finished lanterns to the hall?
At the community workshop. The evening walk is open to neighbours.
44. Listen and complete.
Would you like to the lantern walk tonight?
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