These days, many, or most, people use "can/could to replace "may".
What about "Shall we?"?
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. ;-)
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.... )The analogy escapes me. Is using can/could dangerous or illegal?
A lot of Chinese people like me use Chinglish, which is still incorrect."a lot of people" do it doesn't make it correct.
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. A
:roll:
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.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.....
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.
Could you please help me to deliver these goods to our customer?What's your suggestion for expressing this situation?