Which more polite on the question? can vs could

[Polyester]

Can I have a drink?
Could you help me deliver that goods to our customer?

Which more polite on the question? can vs could

:up:

 

[Jill Dorchester]

"Can" means "are able to." Can you have a drink? If you are physically capable of lifting a beverage to your lips and sipping it, then yes you can. ;-) The polite (and grammatically correct) way to request it is "May I have a drink?"

Likewise "Could you help me" is requesting assistance, and is the correct form.

 

[MikeNewYork]

These days, many, or most, people use "can/could to replace "may".

 

[Polyester]

These days, many, or most, people use "can/could to replace "may".

What about "Shall we?"?

 

[Matthew Wai]

I think 'Could you please ...' is more polite.

Not a teacher.

 

[MikeNewYork]

What about "Shall we?"?

You can't replace "can I" with "shall we". It has a completely different meaning.

 

[Jill Dorchester]

These days, many, or most, people use "can/could to replace "may".

These days many people text while driving. Doesn't make it correct or right. ;-)

 

[konungursvia]

I agree with Mike's observation; in language, conventions do in fact define correctness, ultimately.

 

[Tarheel]

The word "could" is more polite, while "can" is less formal/more informal.

 

[MikeNewYork]

These days many people text while driving. Doesn't make it correct or right. ;-)

The analogy escapes me. Is using can/could dangerous or illegal?

 

[Jill Dorchester]

The analogy escapes me. Is using can/could dangerous or illegal?

No, I was just making the point of just because "a lot of people" do it doesn't make it correct. An attempt at the type of analogy my Mom used to make when I protested that "everybody else" was allowed to do something that was forbidden to me. (Because, doggone it, it grinds my gears when someone uses "can" instead of "may." Call me old and cranky.... )

 

[Matthew Wai]

"a lot of people" do it doesn't make it correct.

A lot of Chinese people like me use Chinglish, which is still incorrect.

Not a teacher.

 

[MikeNewYork]

OK. You're old and cranky. :lol:

 

[Tarheel]

No, I was just making the point of just because "a lot of people" do it doesn't make it correct.

Actually, it pretty much does. Usage rules. Also, it has been true for a long time that "can" has been used informally to request permission. Alas, it has been true for just as long (or so it seems) that people have been saying we are not supposed to use "can" that way. Oh well.

:roll:

 

[Jill Dorchester]

Actually, it pretty much does. Usage rules. A

:roll:

So......because a lot of people pronounce "ask" as "ax", does that make it correct? Or because a huge portion of the population regularly uses double negatives in sentences, it is now considered proper grammar? Just asking.....

 

[Tarheel]

Now we are talking about double negatives? (I thought the discussion was about can/could.) Anyhow, since we are on the subject, somebody once said that language is not mathematics. What if somebody said: "Ron, do you want to go out tonight?" and I said, "No, I do not! No! No! No!" Do all those negatives cancel each out, or do I need one more "no" for that to happen?

 

[Barb_D]

Before we get lost in prescriptive and descriptive, I do want to point out that "deliver that goods" is not correct, regardless of whether you use "can you" "could you" or "would you."

I'd also add that "please" also makes it more correct - mentioned in one post but glossed over.

 

[Raymott]

So......because a lot of people pronounce "ask" as "ax", does that make it correct? Or because a huge portion of the population regularly uses double negatives in sentences, it is now considered proper grammar? Just asking.....

Over time, the answer is 'absolutely' (sic). Little of what we are writing would be correct in Shakespeare's time. Dost thou consider all changes in language to be illegitimate? Many new word meanings have been literally foisted upon us through ignorance of 'real' meanings.

 

[Polyester]

Before we get lost in prescriptive and descriptive, I do want to point out that "deliver that goods" is not correct, regardless of whether you use "can you" "could you" or "would you."

I'd also add that "please" also makes it more correct - mentioned in one post but glossed over.

What's your suggestion answer for express this situation?

 

[Rover_KE]

What's your suggestion for expressing this situation?

Could you please help me to deliver these goods to our customer?