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Laborious Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
"If I may" = "If I am allowed / permitted to"
Hi teachers,
Kindly tell me what "If I may" means. Does it mean "If I am allowed to / If I am permitted to", please?
Here is an example:
- I'd like to ask you about something if I may.
(Teachers, I have a few more questions about this "If I may" which I'd like to ask in my next post if I may.
)
Thank you all.
Kindly tell me what "If I may" means. Does it mean "If I am allowed to / If I am permitted to", please?
Here is an example:
- I'd like to ask you about something if I may.
(Teachers, I have a few more questions about this "If I may" which I'd like to ask in my next post if I may.
)Thank you all.
Top answer
Laborious Does it mean "If I am allowed to / If I am permitted to", please? Literally, yes. In practice, in cases like yours, it is often used as a set expression for politeness or reduction of abruptness.
- Laborious Does it mean "If I am allowed to / If I am permitted to", please?
- Literally, yes.
- In practice, in cases like yours, it is often used as a set expression for politeness or reduction of abruptness.
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4 Answers
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LaboriousDoes it mean "If I am allowed to / If I am permitted to", please?Literally, yes. In practice, in cases like yours, it is often used as a set expression for politeness or reduction of abruptness.
00
Thanks to you, GPY!
The few more questions which I said would like to ask in my following post were:
1) Can we also use this "If I may" with other pronouns (in subjective case), please? For e.g., could we also say "if he/she/they/we may.."?
2) Can we use it (if xyz may ...) in questions as well?
For e.g. could we say, 'If I may a
The few more questions which I said would like to ask in my following post were:
1) Can we also use this "If I may" with other pronouns (in subjective case), please? For e.g., could we also say "if he/she/they/we may.."?
2) Can we use it (if xyz may ...) in questions as well?
For e.g. could we say, 'If I may a
00
1) It's possible; for example "He'd like to come, if he may". I think "I" and "we" are the most common though.
2) "May/can I ask you something?" and "if I may/can ask you something" are OK. The latter is not a complete thought, though.
3) No, not in the same way.
2) "May/can I ask you something?" and "if I may/can ask you something" are OK. The latter is not a complete thought, though.
3) No, not in the same way.
00
Thank you, GPY, for answering my question! It was so nice of you!
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