tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037499475720773192.post4201071030392447805..comments2024-01-23T16:28:52.106-06:00Comments on All Things Purple: Your Assistance is Kindly RequestedThe Purple Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11437333113278178155noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037499475720773192.post-3969348862889388272012-05-31T14:44:37.659-05:002012-05-31T14:44:37.659-05:00It would be interesting to see how generations dif...It would be interesting to see how generations differ, because I'm sure I as a younger person say, "Can I" more often whereas my grandparents probably would've said it depends on the situation.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08789108134865183450noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037499475720773192.post-70967057298634745872012-05-30T05:36:38.534-05:002012-05-30T05:36:38.534-05:00I picked "either one" depending on the n...I picked "either one" depending on the nature of the request. Like everyone else here, it seems, I learned from a very young age the, "I don't know, can you?" rule. Way I see it, "May I" is for permission requests, "Can I" is an "am I able to" question. Like the "Can we start now please?" example up above, that strikes me as more a, "Are you able to stop talking so we can get started" question. Ah, the joy of linguistics. Been there, done that - quite enjoyed it!Krista Walshhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00887177438174795076noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037499475720773192.post-68734791019194791352012-05-29T10:13:24.051-05:002012-05-29T10:13:24.051-05:00I voted for using either or, depending on situatio...I voted for using either or, depending on situation. I also use 'could I possibly' quite often as well! I think 'Can I' is slightly less forceful... I'm more likely to use when speaking to strangers or people I'm being delicate around. It's far less definite.Dave Owenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14863036706112025142noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037499475720773192.post-77981944947457558592012-05-25T23:20:42.459-05:002012-05-25T23:20:42.459-05:00I think 'May I' is more of a statement and...I think 'May I' is more of a statement and 'Can I' is more of a question..make sense? lolAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037499475720773192.post-76954869385413942752012-05-25T22:33:48.097-05:002012-05-25T22:33:48.097-05:00@Suzanne M: Exactly how I learned it. Became very ...@Suzanne M: Exactly how I learned it. Became very tired of hearing "I don't know. Can you?" lol<br /><br />Bottom line? That's how I learned usage. I may not always get it right, but I'd like to think that I get close.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05752713287712280332noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037499475720773192.post-79609059408674476072012-05-25T21:25:48.314-05:002012-05-25T21:25:48.314-05:00I actually never really put much thought into this...I actually never really put much thought into this before now! I use "can I" when addressing my students; I think I use "may I" when talking with my family/friends. I'm not sure why that is. Maybe I'm not asking permission from my students ("Can we start now, please?")...Rubynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2037499475720773192.post-62874637317890439922012-05-25T21:23:54.790-05:002012-05-25T21:23:54.790-05:00My grandpa was an english major and between him an...My grandpa was an english major and between him and my dad, I've always been taught that it is more proper to say "May I'. <br />Once in a while growing up, I'd say, "Dad, can I....(insert whatever question you'd like here)?" and he'd say, "I don't know. Can you?" So I'd have to switch to "May I" before he'd answer my question. :) <br />Not sure if that helped answer your question but it is just what I was always taught.Suzanne Maughanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01699592381901194159noreply@blogger.com