How Can We Help You? How can I help you? Obviously, everyone has the ability to ask questions, and trainees of a new process should always feel they have permission to ask questions in a seminar to make sure those who have questions can get them answered. His anger has at last been unleashed, but it's done him no favours at all. You may submit those in our office from mondays to fridays. He's the kind of person who can't seem to let his emotions out. This particular chapter focusses on a boy called Rodney, who's starting to grow up.
I think that comment might have offended some people. It starts at a point where everything is going well and you're feeling good about life. Can I ask you a few questions? I will pick it up tomorrow. Are they correct in their usage of May? When I was in high school my family and I, moved to a small town. I never had the chance to go to college, but still remember my little old, sweet English teacher that gave me enough knowledge to have been employed my whole life in jobs in which I used the knowledge she pumped into me as a teenager! The use of cannot is far more common than can not, though either is correct. Therefore, can you, will you, or would you is preferred.
Your email address will not be published. I had two elementary school teachers who taught grammar with a passion. Unrelated comments may be deleted. We still recommend the use of may in a formal context. Though I did sleep through most English classes much to the chargrin of my English teacher mother.
I think may should be used when requesting something for yourself. If somebody tries to lift something heavy into their car, you can ask that question - they may, or may not need your help. What can I do for you? The division between permission and ability can sometimes become blurry, and there may be no clearly right or wrong answer in certain cases. Alas, grammar is often not nearly as cut-and-dried as these folks would like. The only difference between the two verbs is that one is more polite than the other. But, as we mention in the post, both can and may are commonly used interchangeably in respect to permission.
Sounds like your daughter is trying to teach her son to be courteous. . Is there a rule about which verb to use in the second person? May and might are both ways of possibility. Possibly because the days are not consecutive? How can I help you? It certainly couldn't be taken as being rude or familiar, and is essentially just an indication of my lack of education. Others did not know the denotation of these auxiliaries. This leans more toward permission and the use of may over can.
You can complete the definition of may i help you given by the English Definition dictionary with other English dictionaries: Wikipedia, Lexilogos, Oxford, Cambridge, Chambers Harrap, Wordreference, Collins Lexibase dictionaries, Merriam Webster. But even then he just can't give vent to his feelings. If we look at this carefully, there could possibly be multiple lines of analysis here. Regardless of whether you choose can or may here, it is clear that permission is being requested. Can I go to the store. Grammar lovers tend to love rules.
You make some good points. I loved learning about grammar and diagramming. There, I had the most wonderful, little, old lady as an English teacher. Jane, which one is correct? One Grateful Student The person asking the question is making a request, not asking permission. If a group of people were watching a race and saw a man who runs very fast and it seems like a possibility that he may be the fastest one out of them all, you would use may.
What is better: Can I help you? You would ask these questions, when you want to help, but it is not clear what the problem is - somebody crying for no obvious reason, for example. The Brits can speak for themselves. There is no rule saying that may cannot be used in a plural sense. The longer we live, the less of the English language we lose. Meaning 1: It is possible that he will hold his breath. The idea was to get across a positive message. The song was made into an animated video, which was written, directed and produced by Mikee Goodman, one of the band's vocalists.
You'd be crazy to e-mail me with the crazy. He said it was not appropriate or correct to say and corrected one of my students. Etiquette and politness are what I work on with my students; however, I appreciate it when they are grammatically correct. I refused to accept that and continued to teach the difference between the two. We still recommend the use of may in a formal written context. Example: He can hold his breath for 30 seconds.
I am using the phrase: A Century of Helping Other. He may have visited Italy before settling in. So, in this case both could be true. You may submit them at our office from mondays to fridays. Please be reminded of your lacking requirements. If he only knew he was telling people they might, and not can, he would fall over in his tracks! You may also be interested in:.