Can I vs May I?

Can I vs May I?

But the 'permission' use of can is not in fact incorrect in standard English. The only difference between the two verbs is that one is more polite than the other. In informal contexts it's perfectly acceptable to use can; in formal situations it would be better to use may.

Does should mean mandatory?

Should is used to mean a recommendation only. IEEE's Style Guide has the following to say: 13.1 Shall, should, may, and can. The word shall is used to indicate mandatory requirements strictly to be followed in order to conform to the standard and from which no deviation is permitted (shall equals is required to).

What’s the only word that means mandatory?

"Must" is the only word that imposes a legal obligation on your readers to tell them something is mandatory. … Even the Supreme Court ruled that when the word "shall" appears in statutes, it means "may."

What is the difference between can and could?

Difference Between Can and Could. The modal verbs can and could represent the ability of a person or thing in doing something. However, there is a difference in their usage, as 'can' is used in present situation, whereas we can use 'could' for talking about a past ability. Both are followed by a base form of the verb.

What is the difference between will and would?

Will and would are verbs, and each can be used many different ways. Will can be a present tense verb that means to cause something to happen through force of desire. … Would is a past tense form of will. It is also a conditional verb that indicates an action that would happen under certain conditions.

Should ought to must have to exercises?

is that obligation is the act of binding oneself by a social, legal, or moral tie to someone while compulsion is an irrational need to perform some action, often despite negative consequences.

Can could grammar?

When could is used as the past tense of can, it refers to an ability that a person generally had in the past or to something that was generally possible in the past ("When I was younger, I could run for miles," or "It used to be you could buy lunch for a dollar.").

Why we use should?

The main use of should now is to tell somebody what they ought to do, to give advice, or to add emphasis:We should really go and visit them soon. You should have seen it! Grammar Point. Dare, need, have to and used to also share some of the features of modal verbs.

How do you use must?

Must is used to express obligation, give orders and give advice. It can only be used for present and future reference. When the past is involved, you use have to.Must is used: to express obligation.

Is was a modal verb?

The principal English modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will and would. Certain other verbs are sometimes, but not always, classed as modals; these include ought, had better, and (in certain uses) dare and need.

Can we use must and should together?

Must or have to followed by an infinitive are used to express obligation. Hence, it doesn't make sense to use them together. From the site: We often use must for more personal opinions about what it is necessary to do, and have to for what somebody in authority has said it is necessary to do.

Should grammar rules?

"Should" is a modal verb most commonly used to make recommendations or give advice. It can also be used to express obligation as well as expectation. Examples: When you go to Berlin, you should visit the palaces in Potsdam.

Has to have or have to have?

Have is the root VERB and is generally used alongside the PRONOUNS I / You / We / Ye and They and PLURAL NOUNS. Generally, have is a PRESENT TENSE word. Has is used alongside the PRONOUNS He / She / It and Who and SINGULAR NOUNS. However, there are some exceptions which will be explained later on in the lesson.

Shall versus Will?

Well, in traditional British grammar, the rule is that will should only be used with second and third person pronouns (you; he, she, it, they). With first person pronouns (I and we), the 'correct' verb to talk about the future is shall. … Equally, not all varieties of British English use 'shall' in these senses.

What is the meaning of shall and usage?

shall. … You use shall, usually with 'I' and 'we', when you are referring to something that you intend to do, or when you are referring to something that you are sure will happen to you in the future.