| Ways of asking and giving permission
征求和给予许可的几种表达方式 |
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| Can I...? | 我能…吗？the most usual and general way of asking permission征求别人同意的最常见、最普遍的用法） |
| May I...? | 我可以…吗？a more formal and polite way of asking permission（征求别人同意较正式、较礼貌的问法） |
| Would it be all right if/Is it all right if/Do you mind if... 如果…可以吗？ | used for showing you do not want to interrupt or annoy someone（用于表示不愿打断或打扰某人） |
| You can 你能… | the most usual and general way of giving permission（给予许可最常见、最普遍的用法） |
| You may 你可以… | a more formal and polite way of giving permission给予许可较正式、较礼貌的用法） |
| I don’ t see why not 我觉得…没什么不妥 | used when you cannot see any reason to prevent someone from doing something（用于表示觉得没有理由阻止某人做某事） |
| Of course you can 你当然能… | used for showing that you are happy for someone to do something（用于表示乐意让某人做某事） |
| Go ahead 随意 | used informally for making someone feel comfortable about doing something（非正式用法，用于让人觉得可以随意做某事） |
| Help yourself 请随意 | used informally, especially when talking about food or drink（非正式用法，尤指劝别人多食用饭菜和饮料） |
| Examples: |
| Can I take your car to work tomorrow? |
| May I use the phone? |
| Would it be all right if I turned the radio off?我把收音机关掉好吗？ Do you mind if I open a window? |
| You can take the big bag as well if you like. |
| Guests may only use the dining room after 6.30 pm. |
| Could I stay the night at Ann’ s? - I don’ t see why not, so long as you’ re home before lunch tomorrow. |
| Can I bring my bike inside? – Of course you can, there’ s plenty of space. |
| May I take a bath? – Sure, go right ahead. There’ s plenty of hot water. |
| Is there any more bread? – Help yourself. It’ s in the kitchen. |
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