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A2 · Module 32 · Permission & Polite Requests

Learn Spanish: Module 32 — Permission & Polite Requests

I can ask permission and make a polite request in common Mexican-Spanish situations.

You will choose between personal and impersonal permission, soften common requests, and separate the two Spanish meanings of English “ask.”

What you will learn
What you are learning
What you learned
You can now
Show What You Can Do
Ready to continue
For now: quisieraandpodríaare learned as conventional polite forms only. Their full tense forms are saved for a later module here.pediruses the already learned e→i present pattern exceptnosotros;preguntaris regular -ar. Verb Tense Options is not shown because there is no tense choice to practice here.
Lesson 1

Ask Permission

What you are learning:I can ask permission politely.

Start here

SpanishEnglish meaning
¿Puedo…?Can I…? / May I…? — personal permission
¿Se puede…?Is it allowed / possible to…? — impersonal/general permission

Build & connect

¿Puedo pagar?
Can I pay?
¿Puedo hablar?
May I speak?
¿Se puede pagar?
Is paying allowed?
¿Se puede hablar?
Is talking allowed?
Compare Spanish and English:English often uses “Can I…?” for permission. Spanish can use ¿Puedo…? when the permission is personal, while ¿Se puede…? frames the question impersonally as whether the action is allowed or possible.
Lesson 2

Polite Requests

What you are learning:I can make a polite request using common Mexican-Spanish forms.

Start here

SpanishEnglish meaning
quisiera…I would like… — conventional polite request form
¿Podría…?Could I / could you…? — conventional polite request form
por favorplease — previously learned and reused

Build & connect

Quisiera información, por favor.
I would like information, please.
Quisiera café, por favor.
I would like coffee, please.
¿Podría ayudarme, por favor?
Could you help me, please?
¿Podría repetir, por favor?
Could you repeat, please?
Compare Spanish and English:Treat quisiera and podría as complete useful polite forms in this module. They make requests softer, but Module 32 does not introduce the full conditional or imperfect-subjunctive patterns behind them.

PEDIR vs PREGUNTAR — Two Ways English Says “Ask”

What you are learning:I can distinguish asking for something from asking a question.

Start here

SpanishEnglish meaning
pedirto ask for / request — e→i pattern recalled from Module 21
pidoI ask for / request
pidesyou (informal singular) ask for / request
pidehe / she / you (formal singular) ask for / request
pedimoswe ask for / request — no stem change in nosotros
pidenthey / you all ask for / request
preguntarto ask a question / inquire — regular -ar
preguntoI ask a question / inquire
preguntasyou (informal singular) ask a question / inquire
preguntahe / she / you (formal singular) ask a question / inquire
preguntamoswe ask a question / inquire
preguntanthey / you all ask a question / inquire

Build & connect

Pido ayuda.
I ask for help.
Quiero pedir información.
I want to ask for / request information.
Pregunto la hora.
I ask the time.
Quiero preguntar algo.
I want to ask something.
Compare Spanish and English:English uses one verb, “ask,” for two different jobs. Spanish normally separates them: pedir when you request or ask for something; preguntar when you ask a question or inquire. Pedir follows the already learned e→i present pattern except nosotros; preguntar is regular -ar.
Review & Reuse

Recall & Practice

50 Review & Reuse Practice Rolls Review Module 32 and learned prior language without introducing new Spanish.

Combined Practice

Combined Practice

Choose the use that fits: permission, polite request, requesting something, or asking a question.

Apply & Communicate

Show the Module 32 Can-Do

Perform the communication skill in different realistic situations. after using Reveal important outcomes require their later new-situation equivalent.

You can now

I can ask permission and make a polite request in common Mexican-Spanish situations.

Correct0 / 150
without help0
Reveal used0
extra practice0 to finish

Keep going — complete the five primary Apply outcomes without Practice Rolls that still need another try after Reveal.