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Ask for help > Bathroom or toilet ?
Bathroom or toilet ?
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Zora
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Canadians often use "can I go to the washroom?"
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27 Sep 2011
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Jayho
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Like Joy said, most Ozzies simply say they are going to the toilet. Some do say loo, some do say bathroom, some even say dunny which is Australian slang for toilet and used in very informal situations by some people. But most just simply say it as it is, toilet.
For school "Can I go to the toilet please" is appropriate. |
27 Sep 2011
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douglas
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as for "may" or "can":
asking: "may I go.." is asking for permission to go
asking: "can I go..." is understood to be asking for permission, however,it is actually asking if you are capable for going...
I suggest using: "May I go to the ... restroom/ bathroom/ toilet/washroom (in that order)" I would not use "loo" for the simple reason that of the five it is the only one that may not be understood when traveling ("loo", as I understand it, is strictly British).
Douglas |
27 Sep 2011
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Jayho
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Good point Douglas but "may" is so old fashioned. It really isn�t used much nowadays. If we teach the use of "may" in this context is it really then authentic everyday English?
BTW, I just checked my Collins Cobuild Student Book and it teaches can/could to ask for permission instead of may and actually says that "may is old fashioned and is not often used in modern English in this way." I wholeheartedly agree, but then we people at the bottom of the world often have a different lingo to that of our forebearers.
Cheers
Jayho |
27 Sep 2011
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Pretty3
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Thanks a lot for your replies |
27 Sep 2011
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douglas
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I guess growing up in a "smart-a$$" family like I did kind of programed me into using "may I". I never really thought about it being old fashioned--doesn �t seem like it to me.
Of course, my kids have continued the "smart a$$" tradition, but they aren �t too bad about responding with "I don �t know, CAN you?" whenever someone uses "can" instead of "may".
I guess I am old (hitting 50 soon), I still use "may" quite a bit.
Cheers,
Douglas |
27 Sep 2011
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