How to ask permission, ask for favors, borrow something and make excuses

In this lesson we are going to learn to ask for permission, ask for favors, borrow something and make excuses. After learning these different expressions, you will be able to ask some important questions that you never know when you will have to ask.

Asking for permission

When we Spanish-speakers want to ask for permission, we normally use the verb “Poder”.

Puedo ir al baño? Can I go to the bathroom?

Remember that in these cases we can use the impersonal “Se”. In that case you are asking in general.

Can you take photos? Can you take photos?

If you want to be a bit more polite, you can use the verb “can” in the conditional tense.

Could I leave my things here for a moment? Can I leave my things here for a moment?

Or we could use the verb “molestar” (to bother), as follows:

Do you mind if you open the window? Do you mind if I open the window?

“Te” is used in casual conversation. It means “to you”

“The” is used in formal conversation. Means “to you”

asking favors

Give/Lend/Pass (Give/Lend/Pass)

Informal, using “You”: Can you lend/give me? (Can you lend me…? Can you give me?)

Formal, using “Ud.”: Can you lend/give me? (Can you lend me…? Can you give me?)

Informal/Courteous: Could you lend/give me? (Could you lend me…? Could you give me?)

Formal/Courteous: Could you lend/give me? (Could you lend me…? Could you give me?)

To order something that I will not return:

Informal: Do you have a pencil? You have a pencil?

Formal: Do you have a pencil? You have a pencil?

ask a waiter for something

Could you bring me a drink? Could you bring me a glass?

Can you bring me a drink? Can you bring me a glass?

Can you bring me a drink? Can you bring me a glass? *Please note that this is not a translation of the address. The direct translation would be “Will you bring me a glass?” which obviously doesn’t make much sense in English.

To apologize:

We use “is that” to make excuses. After “is that” we express the reason why not.

Can you lend me the car? Can I borrow your car?

I’m sorry, it’s just that I need to change to the highest. Sorry, I need to take it to the shop.

Hopefully, you will be able to incorporate some of these expressions into your Spanish vocabulary right away. There will always be a time when you need to ask permission, borrow something or make an excuse, so try to remember these expressions so that when you need to use them, you know what to say!