João
Is there any differences between “May we expect you tomorrow?” or “Can we expect you tomorrow?”
18 sept. 2010 03:34
Réponses · 4
1
yo watsap
11 mars 2024
1
João, Yes, they are both okay, but there is a difference. I expect you for dinner tomorrow. If you expect someone for dinner you are looking forward to it or anticipating it. You consider it certain and are making plans for your guest's arrival, thus the question: May we expect you for dinner? It means that you would like this person's authorization to make plans for their presence at dinner. They would like to set a place for you at the table, perhaps buy more food, etc. 'May' and 'can' are both used for asking permission or authorization. 'May' is considered more polite. At a fancy restaurant or formal dinner it is more polite to ask --May I have another glass of water?--than "Can I have another glass of water?". The differences between 'can' and 'may' seem to be disappearing as our society becomes less and less formal, so I can't imagine anyone being offended if you use 'can' instead of 'may' in this situation. Still, there are formal situations where 'may' would be preferred.
18 septembre 2010
"May we expect you tomorrow" is a very formal question. "Should we expect you tomorrow?" sounds much more natural (and better) to me. Even in somewhat formal situations, we hardly ever use very formal language like "may". I think "May we expect you tomorrow" is not an incorrect sentence, it's just I would expect to hear "Should we expect you tomorrow".
18 septembre 2010
They sound the same to me.
18 septembre 2010
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