Is may or may not formal?
May is the most formal/polite and could is more formal and polite than can. See also: Can, could or may? Requests.
What kind of word is May?
language note: May is a modal verb. It is used with the base form of a verb. You use may to indicate that something will possibly happen or be true in the future, but you cannot be certain.
Can or May in a sentence?
May is the more formal word, and if you are at all concerned about being tut-tutted, a safe choice. Can is now the verb of choice for ability, and both can and may are still used in the “possibility” sense. You may use can if you wish, and you can use may if it makes you feel better.
When to say May I and can I?
As pointed out there, can is the simplest and most common choice, while may is “a more formal and polite way of asking permission”.
Is it rude to say toilet in America?
Most Americans will not care if you call it a bathroom, powder room, restroom, or toilet. All these terms are non-offensive and acceptable, and they would know exactly what you wanted.
Why if I may ask meaning?
phrase. You can say ‘may I ask’ as a formal way of asking a question, which shows you are annoyed or suspicious about something. [feelings]
How do you use if I may ask?
Sentence examples for if I may ask from inspiring English sources
- “How, if I may ask?” “Subway-car door.
- “If I may ask, what is the purpose of this?” he said of the prosecutor’s approach.
- “What is his profession, if I may ask?” “No, I mean he’s gone,” the girl said.
Can I get or may I have?
“May I have…” is more polite, however most people will just say “Can I get…” Both mean asking for something, and have the same meaning 🙂 “Can I get…” is more natural in almost any case. But if you’re in a more formal setting, use “May I get…” Some examples: 1.
Can could may might use?
Can Could May Might Must
- Can. Can – for ability. I can dance Tango.
- Could. Could – past ability. I could run ten kilometres when I was younger.
- May. May – for formal permission. May I come in?
- Might. Might – for possibility. The electrician might be finished by tomorrow.
- Must. Must – to express a formal request or necessity.
Can I drink water or may I drink water?
Senior Member. “may I” is asking permission. You are correct that “may I have” can sound as though the teacher must bring the water.
What mean May?
May is defined as possible or permissible. An example of may is when you admit that it is possible you are wrong. An example of may is when you are given permission to go somewhere.
Why do guys say maybe?
It means he doesn’t want to say yes to the question, whatever it is, because it would mean a lot of trouble for him. He doesn’t want to say no, because you might get mad at him, and he would have to listen to your crap, and he might not get sex. So he says maybe, so he can say “I didn’t say yes” in the future.
Is it correct to say yes you may?
yes you may implies permission, the person may do this i.e the person is allowed or permitted to do this whereas yes you can implies ability i.e the person is capable of doing the thing (permission isn’t involved).
Can I help you or may I help you?
Both are correct, but the meaning is not the same. “Can I help you?” is probably more common. Suppose you see someone standing at a street corner with a map, looking around at the intersecting streets. if you say “Can I help you?”, you are assuming that is possible, but not certain, that the person needs help.
What is the difference between can could and May?
Discussing a Possibility: “Can” suggests a strong possibility or a general truth. “May” and “could” suggest we are less certain about something. Asking for Permission: You can use all three words to ask for permission. To be formal, though, you should use “may” instead of “could” or “can.”
Why is can I use the bathroom wrong?
Technically, the correct form is “May I go to the toilet.” In casual usage, “can” is much more frequent than “may.” But using “can” could let a smart-aleck respond “I don’t know — can you?” Meaning, “Are you able to.” This is because “can” implied you are asking about ability, not requesting permission.
What is the meaning of May I help you?
An offer for assistance, often from a salesperson or employee. A: “May I help you?” B: “Yes, I can’t seem to find this dress in my size.”
Is it rude to say can I help you?
This sounds very polite, but it is a lead-in to more aggressive language. Starting out with a polite suggestion they make their way to the more serious topic at hand. Another example is Can I help you? It sounds very polite, but it’s often a euphemism for What are you doing here? or something else.