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dark_secrester
Guest
Hi, I decided to write an informative post on the usage of 'Will you?' and 'May I?'.
First, I must mention that, although others may use it, it is grammatically incorrect to write 'Can I?', as in this example;
'Can I have a bag of potato chips please?'.
This example, although you may believe that it sounds correct, is incorrect. Using 'Can' is the same as asking the below, which is literally what the above means;
'Is it possible that I am able to have a bag of potato chips?'.
The correct answer to this would be:
'Yes, you can.'. This states that it is entirely possible for you to have a bag of potato chips, but is actually asking if you are allowed to take one.
The correct way to ask for somebody to give you something is to use 'May':
'May I have a bag of potato chips please?'.
This is asking, literally:
'Am I allowed to have a bag of potato chips? If so, I will go and get some.'.
The above is an unused sentence however. The first part is asking the same thing as using 'can', whereas the second part means that, if you are allowed to get a bag, then you will go and get a bag.
It is politer to use 'May', and it also asks the actual question you want.
So remember, 'Can' is a question of possibilty, whilst 'May' asks possibilty and if it is possible, allows you to take it.
Section 2: Will you?
'Will you?' is a little bit easier to understand.
Again, to ask:
'Can you buy me a bottle of pepsi?' asks whether or not they are able to.
'Could you buy me a bottle of pepsi?' asks the same question as 'can'.
'Would you buy me a bottle of pepsi?' asks whether or not they would, however, it is incorrect due to this:
'Would you?' means 'Do you want?', which isn't correct. To go off topic a little, this is similar to an incorrect phrase 'If you like'.
Example:
A:Would you like a cup of coffee?
B:If you like.
A is asking if B wants a cup of coffee. B is going against this by saying 'If you like.', almost exactly the same as A's usage of the word 'Would', which sort of cancels it out.
Would is used purely to say 'Do you want' or 'Should I give you'.
Back on topic: The correct phrase is:
'Will you buy me a bottle of pepsi?'.
The reason for this is below:
'Are you able to, and if yes, are you going to buy me a bottle of pepsi?'.
'Will' asks: 'Are you going to?' whilst as the same time, in a similar way to 'may', asks if the following statement is possible.
A little thing to remember, if you don't want to remember all of the above:
'May I' and 'Will you'. Say it out loud a few times now.
Seriously though, this is to help perfect your English: many people, including my family and friends, incorrectly use questions of possibility rather than these. If you forget, it is not big problem, it simply helps those who want to perfect their English.
Hope you find this topic helpful, and I hope you understand.
First, I must mention that, although others may use it, it is grammatically incorrect to write 'Can I?', as in this example;
'Can I have a bag of potato chips please?'.
This example, although you may believe that it sounds correct, is incorrect. Using 'Can' is the same as asking the below, which is literally what the above means;
'Is it possible that I am able to have a bag of potato chips?'.
The correct answer to this would be:
'Yes, you can.'. This states that it is entirely possible for you to have a bag of potato chips, but is actually asking if you are allowed to take one.
The correct way to ask for somebody to give you something is to use 'May':
'May I have a bag of potato chips please?'.
This is asking, literally:
'Am I allowed to have a bag of potato chips? If so, I will go and get some.'.
The above is an unused sentence however. The first part is asking the same thing as using 'can', whereas the second part means that, if you are allowed to get a bag, then you will go and get a bag.
It is politer to use 'May', and it also asks the actual question you want.
So remember, 'Can' is a question of possibilty, whilst 'May' asks possibilty and if it is possible, allows you to take it.
Section 2: Will you?
'Will you?' is a little bit easier to understand.
Again, to ask:
'Can you buy me a bottle of pepsi?' asks whether or not they are able to.
'Could you buy me a bottle of pepsi?' asks the same question as 'can'.
'Would you buy me a bottle of pepsi?' asks whether or not they would, however, it is incorrect due to this:
'Would you?' means 'Do you want?', which isn't correct. To go off topic a little, this is similar to an incorrect phrase 'If you like'.
Example:
A:Would you like a cup of coffee?
B:If you like.
A is asking if B wants a cup of coffee. B is going against this by saying 'If you like.', almost exactly the same as A's usage of the word 'Would', which sort of cancels it out.
Would is used purely to say 'Do you want' or 'Should I give you'.
Back on topic: The correct phrase is:
'Will you buy me a bottle of pepsi?'.
The reason for this is below:
'Are you able to, and if yes, are you going to buy me a bottle of pepsi?'.
'Will' asks: 'Are you going to?' whilst as the same time, in a similar way to 'may', asks if the following statement is possible.
A little thing to remember, if you don't want to remember all of the above:
'May I' and 'Will you'. Say it out loud a few times now.
Seriously though, this is to help perfect your English: many people, including my family and friends, incorrectly use questions of possibility rather than these. If you forget, it is not big problem, it simply helps those who want to perfect their English.
Hope you find this topic helpful, and I hope you understand.