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Grammar - Everyday Grammar - Modals for Asking Permission |
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| Modals for Asking Permission |
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 Modals
for Asking Permission
The lesson includes an audio program explaining this
grammar topic, the script for the audio program, a words in this story section,
and other important information. |
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this grammar
topic. Then read the following written information. |
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Modals for Asking Permission |
For VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar.
This week we will give you some tips on how to use
modals to make requests and give permission.
Some common modals for expressing permission are may,
can and could. But these modals have multiple meanings
that can be confusing for English learners.
Can and May
Children in American schools learn to use the modal may
when asking for permission. A student might ask the
teacher, "May I be excused?" before leaving the room.
When students asked, "Can I leave the room?" their
teachers often made a joke, "You can, but you may not."
The teacher was saying the student is able to leave the
room, but does not have permission to do so. May is the
most formal way to ask for permission. The distinction
between can and may is slowly disappearing in English.
These days, it is not always clear if may is being used
to express permission or possibility — or both. Let's
look at some examples in the language of internet
privacy policies.
When you visit a website for the first time, you often
see a popup box asking for permission to collect
information about you. Privacy laws in some countries
require websites to tell you what information is
collected and how it will be used.
A common privacy statement includes this sentence: “We
may collect various types of information … when you
visit any of our sites.”
Let's see what this legal language really means. "We may
collect information…" means that you give the company
permission to collect information about you. In other
words, you allow the company to save your email address
or your computer's address.
But may has multiple meanings. In addition to expressing
permission, may also expresses possibility. For example,
“It may rain” means that there is a possibility of rain.
Let’s go back to our privacy example.
“We may collect various types of information … when you
visit any of our sites.” The policy contains some clever
legal language. “We may collect information” means “We
have permission to collect information.” But it could
also mean, “There is a possibility that we will collect
information.” One could make an argument for both
meanings. As an Internet user, you should assume both
meanings of may are part of the policy.
Could and May
A third modal for making polite requests is could. For
example, “Could I please have some water?” Could is the
past tense of can. However, when asking for permission,
could does not have a past tense meaning.
Could has the same meaning as may when making requests.
It is equally polite to say, “Could I leave early?” or
“May I leave early?”
Could is used with any subject to ask for permission.
For example “Could I open the window?” or “Could you
open the window?” are both grammatical.
Be careful with may. When making a request using may,
only I can be the subject. If you are making a formal
request to dance with someone, you would say, “May I
have this dance?” not “May you have this dance?” May
followed by you does not express a request; it expresses
a wish, as in “May you live long.”
But that’s another episode. Until next time, we’ll leave
you a song of permission by the Temptations.
May I have this dance
May I, may, may I have this dance
I’m Jonathan Evans with Ashley Thompson.
Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English.
Adam Brock was the editor. |
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Words in This Story |
- modal
verb - a verb
(such as can, could, shall, should, ought to, will,
or would) that is usually used with another verb to
express ideas such as possibility, necessity, and
permission
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permission - n.
the right or ability to do something that is given
by someone who has the power to decide if it will be
allowed or permitted
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distinction - n.
the separation of people or things into different
groups
- privacy
- n. the state of being
away from public attention
- pop-up
- adj. computers :
appearing on the screen over another window or
document
- allow
- v. to permit
(something) : to regard or treat (something) as
acceptable
- formal
- adj. of language:
suitable for serious or official speech and writing
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Additional Information |
A Game to Learn "May"
A traditional children's game is called "Mother, May I?"
One child plays the mother or father at one end of a
room or a yard. The other children start on the opposite
side in a line. The goal of the game is to get to the
place where the mother or father stands. The
mother/father player gives one player instructions, such
as "Take three giant steps." The player must ask for
permission to move forward by saying, "Mother, may I?"
The mother/ father says, "Yes, you may" or "No, you may
not." If the player moves without asking for permission,
that player has to go back to the starting line. This
game helps children to remember two things -- to ask
permission and to be polite. |
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Now it’s your turn. Write one sentence politely asking
for permission in the Facebook comments section below. |
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Source: Voice of America |
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Grammar Tips |
Can You Catch These Native Speaker Mistakes?
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of common mistakes. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part One
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part One
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part Two
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part Two
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
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