Requests with can/could/may/might I/we

Requests with can/could/may/might I/we

A) can/could/may/might I/we + have + noun/pronoun

can is the most informal:

(a) 'Can I have a sweet?' said the little boy. 
can I/we, when used by adults, sounds more confident than could I/we. could I/we is the most generally useful form:

(b) Could I have a cup of tea? Could I have two tickets, please?

may and might are more formal than could, but possible in both spoken and written English:

(c) May/Might I have a copy of the letter? These requests are usually reported by ask (+ indirect object) •+• for + object:

The little boy asked (me) for a sweet.

He asked for a copy of the letter. But (c) above could also be reported;

He asked if he might have a copy of the letter.

B) can/could/may/might I/we + verb

For the difference between them, see A above.

These could be requests for permission, but with certain

verbs, e.g. see. speak (to), talk (to), they can be ordinary requests:

May/Could I see Mr Jones? = I would like to see Mr /ones. 
This type of request is reported by ask to see/to speak to etc.:

I asked to see Mr/ones.

Do not put a noun/pronoun after ask, as this would change the meaning.

In colloquial English ask for •+• name etc. would also be possible, especially when reporting a telephone conversation:

CALLER: Could I speak to the secretary, please? =

She asked/or the secretary/to speak to the secretary.

C) could/might I/we requests can be preceded by do you think/

I wonder(ed)/was wondering if. These prefixes make the requests more diffident:

I wonder/was wondering if I could have tomorrow off?

Do you think I could speak to the secretary? 
Note the change from interrogative to affirmative verb.