Question

Fill in the blank with a suitable modal:

You have a car. You have to go to the same place as John, who hasn't got his car. You want to give him a lift.
You ask John: _______

• A. May I give you a lift?
• B. Could I give you a lift?
• C. Will I give you a gift?
• D. Shall I give you a gift?

Answer 1

The correct option is A May I give you a lift?

Modal Verbs show us the attitude of the speaker to what is being said or done. The term "modal" means expressing mood and mood is a way to express the attitude of the speaker.

The sentence is in present tense and it requires modal verb which expresses possibility in offering a lift in its way of asking permission.

Therefore Option A is the correct answer as it expresses possibility and sounds more polite in asking permission.

Whereas option C expresses certainty in future actions;

option D expresses the same as option C;

option B expresses in the past form of "can I" suggests ability.