Do you, personally, use "may" to give your own permission and "can" to tell a person that, for example, another authority permits smoking at that time and place?
may vs. can for permission
Yes, mostly because I *can't* go to the bathroom if I don't use the word *may* to ask for permission: if one asketh the teacher permission by saying: "Can I go to the bathroom?" he just says: "Yes, I think you can, but you may not, because you used the word 'can'."
After an education like that one learneth quickly to speak correctly.
After an education like that one learneth quickly to speak correctly.
Both can be used for permission. I'll put some examples, here you are:
Can I go to the bathroom?
Could I go to the bathroom?
May I go to the bathroom?
All of them are used and understood, unless someone is trying to pe pretentious or something.
By the way if you ask for the bathroom in England, They may show you into a room with a bath, possibly a washbasin as well. However, you may find no toilet... So there, you should better ask for the "toilet" or the "lavatory".
Pete
Can I go to the bathroom?
Could I go to the bathroom?
May I go to the bathroom?
All of them are used and understood, unless someone is trying to pe pretentious or something.
By the way if you ask for the bathroom in England, They may show you into a room with a bath, possibly a washbasin as well. However, you may find no toilet... So there, you should better ask for the "toilet" or the "lavatory".
Pete
<<...trying to pe pretentious or something.>>
That should be: trying to be pretentious or something.
That should be: trying to be pretentious or something.
<if one asketh the teacher permission by saying: "Can I go to the bathroom?" he just says: "Yes, I think you can, but you may not, because you used the word 'can'."
>
Do you think teacher's still do that?
>
Do you think teacher's still do that?
"After an education like that one learneth quickly to speak correctly."
... Ilke thou hath?
I'd usually just use "can" but sometimes I'll use "may". It really doesn't matter to me who's giving or asking for permission.
... Ilke thou hath?
I'd usually just use "can" but sometimes I'll use "may". It really doesn't matter to me who's giving or asking for permission.
Like "Student" i've had that can, may experience with teachers more than once and am now totally in the habit of using may in almost every situation.
>> ... Ilke thou hath? <<
Nope it should be "thou hast"
Hath is for the 3rd person: he hath
Nope it should be "thou hast"
Hath is for the 3rd person: he hath
<Like "Student" i've had that can, may experience with teachers more than once and am now totally in the habit of using may in almost every situation. >
That's unfortunate,
That's unfortunate,
"thou hast" you're right. Looks like it's back to school for the likes of me.
M56: That's unfortunate.
You think *that's* unfortunate? You should have been there when a professor asked me if he "should send an assistant in case I experienced difficulties using the lavatories." I learned my lesson.
You think *that's* unfortunate? You should have been there when a professor asked me if he "should send an assistant in case I experienced difficulties using the lavatories." I learned my lesson.