Is it grammatically correct to say can I go to the bathroom?

A young student prepares to debunk Charles Lurie’s outdated style guide, “How to Say It: Helpful Hints On English.” Yes, you ‘can’ go to the bathroom. The “joke” here is based on the insistence that you should use may when asking for permission to do something, and can when speaking about ability.

Can I go to the bathroom vs Can I go to the toilet?

“Can” denotes ability. “Can I go to the restroom?” means “Am I capable of going to the restroom?” This is probably not what was intended. This distinction is often ignored in casual conversation, but “may” is both correct and more polite.

Is it rude to say toilet?

It’s not rude to say “toilet” in America. But the word “toilet” refers only to the porcelain fixture, not to the room it is located in. The room in which the toilet is located is correctly called a bathroom, restroom, lavatory, washroom, convenience, comfort station, powder room, or any of several other options.

What’s the difference with May and can?

The traditional definitions of each word are: Can: Indicates that someone has the ability to do something. May: Refers to the possibility of something happening.

Can I go or shall I go Which is correct?

The correct will be “may I go” if you are asking permission from and elder or a teacher or boss or basically from anyone that you respect. “Shall I go “ might be correct but it is comparatively rude than using “may”. Shall can be used with people your age.

Can I get or can I have?

‘Can I have a beer’ is correct, and your best choice, if someone is waiting for your order. You may also omit the verb and say “a beer, please” to avoid confusion. You are still okay. But do NOT use “get” in this and similar situations.

Can I ask for permission?

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.

Is it correct to say can you go to the toilet?

Technically, the correct form is “May I go to the toilet.” In casual usage, “can” is much more frequent than “may.” But using “can” could let a smart-aleck respond “I don’t know — can you?” Meaning, “Are you able to.” This is because “can” implied you are asking about ability, not requesting permission.

Can I go to the toilet is 100\% grammatical?

Grammarly can help. Get rid of typos, grammatical mistakes, and misused words with a single click! You will get a bunch of answers about etiquette. However, the question is about grammar. “Can I go to the toilet” is 100\% grammatical in Standard English. It is also pragmatically clear what it means.

How do you use the collocational verb in a sentence?

The collocational verb is to use. The word toilet is hardly used in formal contexts. Euphemistically, the latest word is restroom. So, the first sentence is preferable. Many times the distinction between asking for permission (may I) and seeking confirmation of your ability to perform the task (can I ) doesn’t make much difference.

Is it possible to be understood with bad grammar?

In practise, if you need a shower and you aren’t sure the grammar, don’t worry about the grammar, you can still be understood. Many people with terrible English manage to be understood, though it’s painful and unpleasant to listen to them. And if they are teaching/coaching with poor English then even worse.