What is different between This sentence?
May i speak to Mr..
Can i speak to Mr..
Hi,
The version with "can" requires a "please" at the end to be polite, altough informal, isn't it?
(Neither a teacher nor a native speaker.)
Any request requires "please" somewhere in it for it to be more polite.
Please may I speak to ...
Please can I speak to
May I speak to XXX, please?
Can I speak to XXX, please?
Thanks!
Sorry. I'm afraid I was not clear. Yes, in both cases, "please" make the questions more polite. I'll reformulate my question:
Let's assume I'm a tourist talking to a local person in the streets of the city I'm exploring.
If I say to this person "Can I ask you a question?" -- without the "please" -- would it sound impolite?
Alternatively, if I say "May I ask you a question?" would it not sound impolite -- even tough without the "please" -- because of the formality given by the use of "may"?