How to Ask For Permission in English: CAN, COULD, MAY, DO YOU MIND?

Learn how to be a polite English speaker in this lesson. I explain how politeness, formality, and necessity are all important parts of asking permission, when using the following common words and expressions: CAN, COULD, MAY, and DO YOU MIND.

[McEgypt]

Mr. Alex, do you mind if I admire your way in teaching English? Actually, I like your lessons so much because they're inspiring me.

[mechamederod]

Alex, you got the power of teaching! You can make anything easier. Thanks!

[babakrajabzadeh]

ALEX made this video about 10 years ago, but now i'm happy to watched it thanks Alex.

[bereketbedassa]

Mr.Teacher Alex you are my favorite english teacher I truly appreciate your hard work thanks a lot you are very very professional teacher that why I like the way you teaching.

[memikell]

What? "Can is like saying "do I have the ability of ....?" "May I ...?" is asking permission. In school (too many years ago to count) if I asked the teacher, "Can I leave the room?" He would likely say, "Yes you can leave the room, but you may not!" His way of saying, "You have the ability of leaving, but I do not give you permission to do so." It was the way he taught us the difference between "can I" and "may I"

[lancelot]

I am an English speaker and had never thought about the different "nuances" of these expressions, thank you for explaining these to the community,
Ciao!,
L

[MrChimkin]

Thank you, Alex! I didn't know about such nuances. I was taught at school that one should ask permission only with the word "may", and I was considering the situations in which the native speakers say "can I", as a modern English deviation.

[engvidAlex]

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[khoa]

i'm fond of the way you explain things.
Thanks from Vietnam

[-wz]

It`s great the way you use your language so clearly when you speak, thank you for your lessons!

[emmanuelpamphile]

Thanks Mr you are very good teacher 👍🏻👍🏻

[osonhodeleon]

A short, but, very useful video! Thanks.

[donaldsonthelamond]

Hi teacher Alex ! Am a Haitian am watching you frm Haiti you help me a lot with your videos

[basi]

Hello Alex. Your video has helped me a lot. I am kindly requesting for you to continue to post more. thank you

[maiaela]

Alex, you are a great teacher, very cleary. Gracias, no es facil para mi el ingles.

[temachanalAbadtube]

Oh very thanks m.alex tomorrow i have english langouge test iam from suadi arabia and thanks again

[hck]

thanks for your videos, I'm learning English, and thanks to your videos I have learned a lot ... Keep it!

[hck]

thanks for your videos, I'm learning English, and thanks to your videos I have learned a lot ... Keep it!

Gracias por tus videos, Yo estoy aprendiendo Ingles, I gracias a tus videos yo he aprendido mucho... Sigue asi!

[ruiangel]

ur such a good communicator.i like this and u 2.

[AlexanderVilC]

hello people! I'm from Peru, and Thanks! I ve learned something!