Typical inquiry with 'What' to invite suggestions

What would you like to do?

11.38 Actions: using modals to ask someone to do somethina
11.38.1 Typical requests inviting Yes/No responses [> 11.19-20]

Will you? Would you? in these requests refer to willingness Can you? Could you? refer to ability. Will you (please)

Can/Could you (please) open the window for me)'?

Would you (please)

Would you like to

Would you mind opening the window (for me)?

Will/Would you sounds even more polite with the addition of kindly and can/could with the addition of possibly [compare > 11.22]

Will/Would you kindly? Can/Could you possibly? We cannot use May you...? in requests for help.

11 Modal auxiliaries and related verbs

Typical responses

Yes of course (I will) No I m afraid I can t (at the moment)

Actions: using modals to offer to do things for others

11.39.1 Typical offers to do things [> 11 19-20]
Offers beginning Shall I? Shall we? are very common

Can I/Could I/Shall I open the window (for you)? Would you like me to open the window (for you)'? That s the phone I'II get it for you (shall I)? What shall/can I do for you?

And note very polite offers with may in e g May I take your coat?

Typical responses

The usual responses are Yes please No thank you, or tag responses like Can/Could/Would you⁹ - that's very kind, but not Yes, you can/No, you can't, which could sound rude

Actions: suggestions that include the speaker

Typical suggestions inviting Yes/No responses

Shall we go for a swim? We can/could/might go for a swim

Typical responses

Yes lets (shall we)? [compare > 16.4.1] Wo I'd rather we didn't/No I'd rather not

11.40.3 Typical inquiries with 'What'

What shall/can/could we do this afternoon?

Expressing wishes with 'wish', 'if only', etc.