Posted January 11, 2018

Themken
Old user
Registered: Nov 2011
From Other

MarkoH01
The goose rules!
Registered: Jun 2009
From Germany
Posted January 11, 2018
I was wondering if "Can I have..." or "May I have..." would be correct in case somebody is asking for a game? I always thought that "Can I have" would mean as much as "Will I be able to have..." while "May I have" would be more like "Am I allowed to have ...". Not sure about this but maybe some of you native English speakers could tell me.
Post edited January 11, 2018 by MarkoH01

tomyam80
Not-So-New User
Registered: Feb 2011
From Singapore
Posted January 11, 2018

Edit: supplementscene is more accurate, May is asking for permission while Can is asking if it's possible but usually in normal usage Can is taken as asking for permission as well. (eg, Can i borrow this chair) so both are acceptable to me @ least. However, if really need to be precise it is of cos better to use May, given that it is more polite as well. :)
Post edited January 11, 2018 by tomyam80

supplementscene
New User
Registered: Nov 2015
From United Kingdom
Posted January 11, 2018

May I have - can I have permission
So may is correct in this context
So 'Can you give me this game?' 'Yes I can in theory but I won't because I shall not grant you permission'.
Post edited January 11, 2018 by supplementscene

Cavalary
RIP GoodOldGOG:DRMfree,one price,goodies,community
Registered: May 2011
From Romania
Posted January 11, 2018

Er, ninja'd. Anyway...
Post edited January 11, 2018 by Cavalary

MarkoH01
The goose rules!
Registered: Jun 2009
From Germany
Posted January 11, 2018
Thank you @tomyam80, @supplementscene, @Cavalary for explaining it. So my English teacher was right all along. I was wondering a bit since I usually read "can" in the forum rather than "may" and sometimes there's a difference in the things you learn in school and the way real English people are actually using it nowadays.

Gede
GNU/Linux user
Registered: Nov 2014
From Portugal
Posted January 11, 2018

Better not use his best suit while he's at it...

andysheets1975
RIP Roy 01/07/2023
Registered: Jan 2011
From United States
Posted January 11, 2018

"Miss, can I...?" "I don't know, can you?"
"Miss, can I...?" "I don't know, can you?"
"Miss, can I...?" "I don't know, can you?"
My wife said one of her teachers nearly made a kid piss his pants because he kept asking "Can I go to the bathroom?" and she pulled that crap instead of just letting him leave.

drmike
Why yes, I am a Major General
Registered: Jan 2012
From United States
Posted January 11, 2018

And before you click on the downvote button, I grew up on Social Security. Lots of fun.
But anyway to the "May I..." folks:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qXC3mMqDwU

ciemnogrodzianin
🇵🇱
Registered: Dec 2013
From Poland
Posted January 11, 2018
Any chance that Noctropolis is still available?
I've never played the original, but looks like something unique from golden age of adventure games. And the new release has also HQ soundtrack + native Linux installer!
I've never played the original, but looks like something unique from golden age of adventure games. And the new release has also HQ soundtrack + native Linux installer!

MarkoH01
The goose rules!
Registered: Jun 2009
From Germany
Posted January 11, 2018


Sidenote at this matter: screw PC - always!

Breja
You're in my spot
Registered: Apr 2012
From Poland

MarkoH01
The goose rules!
Registered: Jun 2009
From Germany
Posted January 11, 2018

AWG43
Registered: Aug 2013
From Ukraine

drmike
Why yes, I am a Major General
Registered: Jan 2012
From United States
Posted January 11, 2018


Outside of a single Easter egg: http://texmurphy.wikia.com/wiki/Links_986