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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > help please...
help please...
mahlove
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help please...
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Can you help me whats the difference of may i and shall i?
im confuesed. the teaching style here in Japan is different. please help me to understand more. im not sure with the explanation of my teacher. :( |
28 Aug 2014
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lewisronaldc
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We often use [ may I] when asking if we can do something that
involves just one person [myself] , such as may I have a cookie, may I take your coat? and [shall I] when the happening involves more than one person, such as shall I pass out the cookies, or shall I put all the guests � coats in the closet? However as an American whose country is made up of English speaking people from all over the world, I have had these two phrases reversed and both are asking for permission to do something. After all, we are talking about understandable communication. May I is considered more polite by some.
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28 Aug 2014
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Tere-arg
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May I...? is used to ask for permission.
May I use your phone?
Shall I...? is used to ask for instructions, advice
Shall I do the exercise now? |
28 Aug 2014
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