May I?
Or
Can I?

Why is one wrong and one right? I am so confused……

Question

May I?
Or
Can I?

Why is one wrong and one right?  I am so confused……

Answer

Hi Paul. Why do you think your message was flagged as violating italki's community guidelines? Do you agree or disagree with that decision?

Answer

Correction: bicycle (spelling)

Answer

Giovanni, the correct, but more formal way is to ask: May I.....?

For example: May I sit here, please?

Or Please may I ask you a question?

When I was a young child between 5 and 7 years old a friendly neighbour corrected me when I asked, Can I leave the table, please?

She responded You should say: May I leave the table, please?

My younger sister and I used to play with her two daughters who lived about 7 doors away in the same street.

Can I + do an activity  is really asking the other person Am I able/competent enough to do something?

The correct way to use Can is to ask Can you ride a biciycle or Can you cook? Can is talking about skills not asking for permission to do something. (Asking for permission = May)

Nowadays, it has become much more common to hear people say Can I ...instead of May I ...?

The conditional  form of Can is could and is used to politely ask somebody to do something for you, like in a restaurant: Could you bring me a glass of water, please?

Ideally, it would be much easier for foreign students if native speakers followed the grammar rules, but the language would sound strange and unnatural so native speakers, especially younger people, are frequently developing new ways to use their language in every day conversations (colloquial speech)

I hope this helps you. 😀

I am only a native English speaker, not a professional teacher.  😉

Answer

May I is the polite form or more formal form.

May I sit here (job interview)

Answers · 4

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