Tham khảo tài liệu 'how to ask questions part 22', ngoại ngữ, ngữ pháp tiếng anh phục vụ nhu cầu học tập, nghiên cứu và làm việc hiệu quả | 3 You can use may followed by I or we when you are offering to help someone or to do something for them. This use of may was formerly considered to be more correct than the use of can or could in this context but may is now used only in formal situations May I offer you a lift I m going your way. That s very kind of you but I have my car in the car park. May I help you wash up No thank you. I ll just put all the dishes in the dishwasher. May I do anything to make your stay here more comfortable No thank you. We have everything we need and we re very comfortable. You don t look very well. May we offer you some assistance Thank you. Could you get me a drink of water please 1 You can also use can in this context in less formal situations Can I get you anything Some coffee or a glass of wine 2 You can also sometimes use might in this context Has your car broken down Might I be of any assistance It s very kind of you to offer but the local garage has sent a mechanic to help. I m just waiting for him. 4 You can use may especially with I or we in formal contexts to make a comment suggestion etc or to ask a question in a very polite way May I say how pretty you look in that dress Thank you. It s kind of you to say so. May I suggest that we postpone making our application until further information is available The problem is that the deadline for applications is next week. Using modal verbs to osk Questions 143 May I ask how you came by this information Tm afraid that I cannot reveal my sources. May I make a suggestion I think that we should ask our financial director to have another look at the budget for this project. That s an excellent suggestion. I ll contact him now. Although this is a formal polite way of making a comment or asking a question you sometimes use it when you are angry or disapproving and you sometimes use it in rhetorical questions May I ask what right you have to be here You are not a club member. 7 didn t realize it was a private club. May we ask .
