[Vocabulary] Can I know your name?

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MarieLina

Junior Member
Joined
Jul 29, 2009
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Student or Learner
Native Language
Russian
Home Country
Russian Federation
Current Location
Russian Federation
Is it correct to ask a visitor, whose name I do not know:
"Can I know your name?"
 
"Can I know your name, please?"

That's possible, though have is more likely than know, in my opinion.

If it's a visitor to your house, for example, someone who has come with a friend of yours, you might say:

I'm sorry, I don't know you name. or:

Good evening/hello/hi; I'm Marie.
This is a clue for the other persn to give you their name.
 
"Can I know your name, please?"

That's possible, though have is more likely than know, in my opinion.

If it's a visitor to your house, for example, someone who has come with a friend of yours, you might say:

I'm sorry, I don't know you name. or:

Good evening/hello/hi; I'm Marie.
This is a clue for the other persn to give you their name.

I would say there are different versions for different scenarios.

If this is a visitor to your house, then you need to be slightly less formal. I would suggest:

Hi. I'm Bob. And you are...?
Hi. Sorry, I don't know your name. (This fulfils the great British tradition of apologising for everything!

In a more formal (business) setting, you would use:

Good afternoon. May I take your name?
Good morning. May I have your name please?

However, if you wake up in the middle of the night and find a burglar in your bedroom, I think the niceties can disappear:

"OY! Who are you?!"
 
Thank you all!:-D
 
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