Why should we use COULD as the answer?

[Natalia Imbrug]

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #49 "Modal Verb Questions", question 4

......... you please bring me my notebook?

(a) Shall
(b) Could
(c) May
(d) Must

English Grammar Tests, Elementary Level

ESL/EFL Test #49 "Modal Verb Questions", answer 4

Could you please bring me my notebook?

Correct answer: (b) Could
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Why should we use COULD as the answer? Thank you, Ma'am/Sir

Natalia Imbrug

[Mister Micawber]

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'Could' is the only word in the list that is used for requests of another person.
.
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Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's

[Yankee]

As Mister Micawber says, the word 'could' is the only word that works in the sentence.

The word 'may' is often used to politely request permission from another person. When 'may' is used to make a request, the word 'may' is not followed by the word 'you'. For example:

May I borrow your car?
May I go with you?
May I please have my notebook back?

[Misskhan]

[Alan]

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Hi Misskhan,

You have to remember that 'may' has the meaning of 'give permission'. When we say 'May I', we are asking: Do I have the permission to ...?. Now that's common with the first and third person singular and plural - May I/May we/ and May he/May they?. But it would be a little unusual to say: May you? in other words you don't usually ask permission of yourself, do you?

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Words, words, words...

[Kitosdad]

" Would you mind fetching me a book ", is also a possibility here.
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If you need me, I'm here.

[Misskhan]