Adjective Question

[Elizabeth]

In proper American English (I'm not sure about other English-speaking countries), it is inappropriate when asking permission to say, "Can I open the door?" for example. Of course you can open the door. Unless you had no arms... The correct question to ask is "May I open the door?" Both are used in the spoken language, similar to the problematic ain't mentioned above. When it comes down to it, though, can I is wrong in this situation, at least so far as modern American linguists have to say about it.

I personally make the distinction between 'can I,' widely used for 'allowed' in informal English, when asking out of consideration for other persons and the harder-edged, more formal-sounding 'may I' for permission out of my own selfish desire. At least that's my feeling for how the situations for these two uses have evolved and perhaps one reason 'can I' has gained so much currency without being technically sound or grammar-maven correct.