Can I help you OR May I help you?

Question

What is better:Can I help you ? How can I help you?ORMay I help you? How can I help you?What can I do for you?ORWhat may i do for you?

Ter · Accepted Answer

"May" is more polite and formal.

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]What is better: Can I help you ? How can I help you? OR May I help you? How can I help you? What can I do for you? OR What may i do for you?[/nq]
Usually, the more polite form is "may". However, it depends on the circumstances. It is important to remember that the two questions mean different things. "May" asks for permission: do you allow? "Can" asks: is it possible?
"How can I help you? What can I do for you?" asks /what/ kind of help is required. You would ask these questions, when you want to help, but it is not clear what the problem is - somebody crying for no obvious reason, for example. If it is something simple - like they just lost their ring, you /can/ help search for it. If they cry because they don't have a million dollars, you most probably /can't/ help (unless you're a billionaire, of course).
"May I help you?" asks if they need your help; it asks for permission to help them, when it is clear what the problem is. If somebody tries to lift something heavy into their car, you can ask that question - they may, or may not need your help.

You'd be crazy to e-mail me with the crazy. But leave the div alone.

Usenet · Answer

"If they cry because they don't
have a million dollars, you most probably /can't/ help (unless you're a billionaire, of course)."
)) Excellent joke!
If you are not Abramowitsch or Bill Gates;))
"Patok" (Email Removed) ??/?? ? ?? ??:

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]What is better: Can I help you ? =A0How can I help you? OR =A0May I help you? =A0How can I help you? What can I do for you? OR What =A0may i do for you?[/nq]
The meaning of "can I" is "am I able to".
The meaning of "may I" is "do I have permission to".

Most Americans misuse "can". The Brits can speak
for themselves.
GFH

Usenet · Answer

(Email Removed), GFH (Email Removed) writes
[nq:2]What is better: Can I help you ? How can I help you? OR May I help you? How can I help you? What can I do for you? OR What may i do for you?[/nq]
[nq:1]The meaning of "can I" is "am I able to". The meaning of "may I" is "do I have permission to". Most Americans misuse "can". The Brits can speak for themselves.[/nq]
I agree that, when offering help, "may" may be 'more polite', but I would almost invariably use "can". It certainly couldn't be taken as being rude or familiar, and is essentially just an indication of my lack of education.

Ian

Usenet · Answer

It is very close to German:
CAN ° KOENNEN (können)
MAY ° DUERFEN (dürfen)
"Ian Jackson" (Email Removed) ??/?? ? ?? ??:

Usenet · Answer

(Email Removed), GFH (Email Removed) writes
[nq:2]It is very close to German: CAN ° KOENNEN (können) MAY ° DUERFEN (dürfen)[/nq]
[nq:1]Germans also misuse können and dürfen.[/nq]
But how do the French cope with "can" and "may"? As far as I know, "can" and "may" have to share the single verb "pouvoir".

And this begs the question "Is 'may'' really a verb?" I was taught that a verb is a 'doing word', which "may" isn't.

Ian

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]And this begs the question . . . .[/nq]
No; it doesn't.
http://begthequestion.info

Cordially,
Eric Walker, Owlcroft House
http://owlcroft.com/english/

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]Germans also misuse können and dürfen.[/nq]
[nq:1]But how do the French cope with "can" and "may"? As far as I know, "can" and "may" have to ... the question "Is 'may'' really a verb?" I was taught that a verb is a 'doing word', which "may" isn't.[/nq]
There are other type of verb as well as "doing words": http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verb
In syntax, a verb is a word (part of speech) that usually denotes an action (bring, read), an occurrence (decompose, glitter), or a state of being (exist, stand).
Verbs that express a state are also called "stative verbs". The most familiar, and probably the most frequently used of all verbs, is the verb "to be".(1)
Some verbs are "auxiliary verbs", for instance "may", "might", "can", "could", and so on:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auxiliary verb
of English auxiliary verbs

(1) The stative verb "to be" is used in all of the sentences in this post.

Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]And this begs the question . . . .[/nq]
[nq:1]No; it doesn't. http://begthequestion.info[/nq]
Too late, Eric. That horse bolted from the stable years ago. It's too late to shut the door now.

http://www.phrases.org.uk/meanings/beg-the-question.html

....
Most authorities now view the current 'raise the question' meaning as acceptable, even if that is a somewhat grudging recognition that the weight of numbers of those who use it that way is overwhelming. It is also suggested by some that the minority who know and understand the original version should avoid using it, unless they are amongst consenting adults, as they aren't likely to be understood. That would be an unfortunate route to take. Whatever we might prefer, it is very likely that the percentage of the population that knows, or cares, that they are using the phrase incorrectly will continue to decline.
Copyright © Gary Martin, 1996 - 2009

Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.english.usage)

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