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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > I need an opinion
I need an opinion
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petili
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I need an opinion
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Please, can you tell me whether this sentence is correct to use in this way?
" How I may help you?"
Isn �t it more correct to say " How can / could I help you?"
Thank you in advance
Petya |
23 Jun 2009
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anitarobi
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NO, IT �S NOT CORRECT..- IT �S....
HOW MAY I HELP YOU? or
HOW CAN I HELP YOU?
PS: THANK YOU, PETILI AND MANONSKI, IT �S GONE, THE LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONG POST IS GONE..... |
23 Jun 2009
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petili
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Which modal is more common to use - can or may? - in that question.
Petya |
23 Jun 2009
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gaby_mn
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"How may I help you?" is more formal.
"How can I help you?" is the same, except its less formal
"How could I help you?" doesn�t sound correct to me...
Hope this helps |
23 Jun 2009
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Jayho
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Hi Petya
Can is more common.
However, in the old old old days it was not acceptable. Can was for ability and may for permission. Fortunately, today it is acceptable, and in fact extremely common, to use can. Some senior citizens, or those who studied grammar intensely during their school years, might still use it in the traditional sense. And of course you �ll see it in the old English classics.
Cheers
Jayho
P.S. How could I help you is not correct |
24 Jun 2009
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ajaaron
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"How could I help you" can be used if you were discussing the future conditional.
"If I lost both my hands, how could I possibly help you?"
Gaby is spot on. It really is an issue of formality. If you were speaking to an important guest at a hotel you might say; "How may I help you sir?", but no-one would object to "How can I help you sir?"
Petya provides a good example. This is again shows how historical English is often considered formal.
If you are looking for which is more commonly used "can" would be the winner.
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30 Jun 2009
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