1. Est-ce que je peux…? Asking for something/offering to help.

2. 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?

3. 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):

4. 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

5. 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?