Is it more polite to use 'may' rather than 'can' for permission? |
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Votes: 613
Comments: 9
Added: August 2003
| TDOL - 3rd September 2003 21:51 |
| It is only to those people who use it in that way. Those who only use 'can' would say it was not. |
| Red5 - 3rd September 2003 23:14 |
| TDOL, I'm not sure I agree about that. |
| Willbut - 5th September 2003 18:26 |
| 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? |
| USACat - 8th February 2006 16:30 |
| 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. |
| nevar111 - 9th November 2006 02:23 |
| "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. |
| me - 22nd June 2007 02:02 |
| i agree with ya nevar..absolutly right |
| JennyB - 5th December 2007 11:46 |
| 'Can' is perfectly OK for permission and it is wrong to say that it only denotes ability. |
| linda - 5th June 2009 14:28 |
| Can is used to show ability, possibility, and permission. The fact that everyone uses it in that way regularly should emphasize its correct usage in that manner. |
| kelly - 24th June 2009 20:36 |
| i think you should use may when you are asking for something and also using proper lang. |
