Is it more polite to use 'may' rather than 'can' for permission? |
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| Votes: 464 |
Comments: 7 |
Added: August 2003 |
Comments:
| TDOL - 3rd September 2003 21:51
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| It is only to those people who use it in that way. Those who only use 'can' would say it was not.
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| Red5 - 3rd September 2003 23:14
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| TDOL, I'm not sure I agree about that.
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| Willbut - 5th September 2003 18:26
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| Red, it is a question not an opinion. However, I'd say it's more formal rather than more polite. Does that make it better to you?
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| USACat - 8th February 2006 16:30
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| Using may to ask for permission is the more proper way. Using can is accepted though, we have Americanized English so much that it works.
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| nevar111 - 9th November 2006 02:23
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| "Can" denotes the ability to do something. "May", however, expresses permission to do something. For example: You may have the ability to accomplish a task, but have not received the authorization to do so.
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| me - 22nd June 2007 02:02
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| i agree with ya nevar..absolutly right
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| JennyB - 5th December 2007 11:46
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| 'Can' is perfectly OK for permission and it is wrong to say that it only denotes ability.
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