Learn the English Phrases "Can I...?" and "Could I...?"

In this English lesson I wanted to help you learn the English phrase, “Can I...?”

This is how you start a question when you're maybe at a restaurant

ordering something or maybe asking if you can do something.

This morning I went to this little bakery and I got a coffee

and I said, “Can I have a decaf coffee with cream and sugar?”

I also got this really yummy croissant here with egg, cheese and bacon.

And when I ordered that I said, “Can I get a croissant with egg, cheese and bacon

and just a little bit of butter?” Sometimes when my kids want to do something, they'll asks...

a question, starting with these two words.

They'll say, “Can I go to a friend's house today?” So

it's another way to order food or a way to ask if you can do something.

The other phrase I wanted to teach you today is the phrase, “Could I...?”

This is the same as “Can I...?” I forgot to mention this on my bigger

channel when I did the lesson at the drive-thru.

You can say, “Could I...?” But you can also say, “Can I...?” They are very much the same.

So I could have said, “Could I have a decaf coffee?” or.

“Could I have a croissant with egg, cheese and bacon?” And it would mean the same thing.

And the same with my kids.

If my kids wanted to go somewhere, they could say, “Could I go to a friend's house

today?” Or “Could I buy a brand new car once I save up enough money?” And I'd be like,

“No, that that's a bad idea.” So to review “Can I...?” is a way to start a question

when asking for permission to do something and “Could I...?” is exactly the same thing.

They both mean exactly the same.

So anyways, so let's look at a comment from a previous video.

This comment is from Aleksey, and Aleksey says,

Let's see here, diversify or don't put all your eggs in one basket.

I believe that you still use this proverb in English, just like we do in Russian.

Personally, I have no reason to complain about the weather this year.

I mainly grow tomatoes, not for profit, just for fun and family.

As usual, I planted half of them in a greenhouse and the other half in open ground.

Both ways have worked this season.

Thanks for the video and have good weather.

And my response?

Yes, we still use that phrase and it is a good one.

Don't put all your eggs in one basket.

Sometimes it is tempting to just grow one or two flowers that are the most profitable.

But in a year like this, we're glad we haven’t.

That would have been a mistake.

So thanks, Aleksey, for that comment.

I'm going to pop up here for a sec and give you a tour.

Yes. It's always good to diversify.

It's always good to make sure that you have a variety of things on the go.

Sometimes it's even good to have more than one job.

When I was younger, I had a few part-time jobs.

Actually, one time I had three part-time jobs at the same time.

That way, if things slowed down

or if I didn't get a shift at my one job, at least I knew I had the other two jobs.

By the way, that's the café / bakery where I bought the coffee and the croissant.

I haven't started eating them yet.

I want to finish this English lesson first before I get started on that.

But yeah, thanks, Aleksey, for that comment.

That is a good idea.

So I'm not driving as much anymore.

My..., the kid I was bringing to work got their license

so I don't have to drive as much.

So I only drive a couple of times a week instead of five times a week.

So I'm not going to be in this town very often anymore.

So I thought I should make one last little English lesson here.

I do have a few weeks left.

There might be another one or two coming up.

I'm standing here in this little area.

You can actually see this truck is unloading

all of the stuff that they need to run that little Subway restaurant there.

It's a little bit loud because there's a town vehicle driving around.

I think he goes around and waters all of the trees every morning.

I think he’s probably stopping for his coffee right now.

That would be my guess. It's time for a morning coffee.

It's a little early for a coffee break already, though.

It's only like 8:00 in the morning, but maybe it's a coffee before work

kind of thing, like what I'm doing. Anyways, thanks for watching.

See you in a couple of days with another short English lesson. Bye.