could / may / can I I

[Ju]

1. May I have it?

2. Can I have it?

3. Could I have it?


What are the differences in meaning among May I, Can I, Could I?

__________________________________________________ ____________

I am making a sentence with Could I have it. Do I have to put the verb on the following sentence to past tense due to having could in the first sentence?

eg. Could I have a pair of rubber shoes because I am going for hiking later in the afternoon.


__________________________________________________ ____________
Thank you.

[engee30]

1. May I have it?

2. Can I have it?

3. Could I have it?


What are the differences in meaning among May I, Can I, Could I?
Basically, there are no differences between those three modal verbs.
__________________________________________________ ____________

I am making a sentence with Could I have it. Do I have to put the verb on the following sentence to past tense due to having could in the first sentence?
No, you don't.

eg. Could I have a pair of rubber shoes because I am going for hiking later in the afternoon.


__________________________________________________ ____________
Thank you.

[TheParser]

1. May I have it?

2. Can I have it?

3. Could I have it?


What are the differences in meaning among May I, Can I, Could I?

__________________________________________________ ____________

I am making a sentence with Could I have it. Do I have to put the verb on the following sentence to past tense due to having could in the first sentence?

eg. Could I have a pair of rubber shoes because I am going for hiking later in the afternoon.


__________________________________________________ ____________
Thank you.

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


Ju,


As I understand it:

(1) Can I have a pair of gloves, please? I'm going hiking later this afternoon. = a polite request.

(2) Could I have a pair of gloves, please? I'm .... = much more
courteous. For some reason, in English the past form is often considered more courteous.

Hey! Can I sit here?
Excuse me. Could I sit here?

(3) May I have a .... = According to Mr. Michael Swan's

Practical English Usage, may is "more formal than can and could."

(a) Mr. Swan also points out a super polite and formal word:

Might [the past of "may"] I have a pair of gloves?

Mr. Swan says that such a request is NOT very "natural." If you

wish to use "might," then he suggests:

I wonder if I might have a pair of gloves. I'm going hiking later this afternoon. (Such an indirect question is extremely formal and polite. You might use it for the boss:

Excuse me, sir. I wonder if I might ask you a personal question.)