Everyday English · CEFR A2 · Everyday
Can I…? May I…? Do you mind if…? — Everyday english
Can I is everyday, May I is formal, and Do you mind if I takes the present tense even though it feels like it should not.
The shape
Can / Could / May I + verb · Do you mind if I + present
Ask whether you are allowed to do something.
In Hindi
Can I रोज़ का, May I औपचारिक, और Do you mind if I के बाद वर्तमान काल आता है।
CoCap explains every structure in both languages, because a rule you understand in Hindi is a rule you can use in English.
The mistake to fix first
The sentence Indian-English speakers actually produce, and the reason it is wrong.
| Commonly said | Correct English |
|---|---|
Do you mind if I will sit here? | Do you mind if I sit here? After "if I" in this phrase the verb stays in the present. |
Can I…? May I…? Do you mind if…? examples
Easiest first. Every sentence is authored, with the Hindi it comes from.
Can I sit here?
क्या मैं यहाँ बैठ {सकता|सकती} हूँ?
also correct: May I sit here?
Can I come in?
क्या मैं अंदर आ {सकता|सकती} हूँ?
also correct: May I come in?
Can I take this?
क्या मैं यह ले {सकता|सकती} हूँ?
also correct: May I take this?
Can I go now?
क्या मैं अभी जा {सकता|सकती} हूँ?
also correct: May I leave now?
Can I use your phone?
क्या मैं तुम्हारा फोन इस्तेमाल कर {सकता|सकती} हूँ?
Can I open the window?
क्या मैं खिड़की खोल {सकता|सकती} हूँ?
Can I have some water?
क्या मैं पानी पी {सकता|सकती} हूँ?
also correct: May I drink some water?
Can I wait here?
क्या मैं यहाँ इंतज़ार कर {सकता|सकती} हूँ?
Can I ask you a question?
क्या मैं आपसे एक सवाल पूछ {सकता|सकती} हूँ?
Can I put my bag here?
क्या मैं अपना बैग यहाँ रख {सकता|सकती} हूँ?
Easy to confuse with
Close enough to be mixed up with this one. Knowing the difference is most of knowing either.
- can / couldA1Say what you can do, and ask for things politely
- be allowed toB1Talk about permission that somebody else gives
Questions people ask
- What is the can i…? may i…? do you mind if…? used for?
- Can I is everyday, May I is formal, and Do you mind if I takes the present tense even though it feels like it should not. In practice: ask whether you are allowed to do something.
- How do you form the can i…? may i…? do you mind if…??
- Can / Could / May I + verb · Do you mind if I + present.
- What is the most common mistake with the can i…? may i…? do you mind if…??
- Saying “Do you mind if I will sit here?” instead of “Do you mind if I sit here?”. After "if I" in this phrase the verb stays in the present.
Where can i…? may i…? do you mind if…? fits
Where this structure sits in the ladder, and what surrounds it.
Can I…? May I…? Do you mind if…? is a CEFR A2 structure — the everyday band — and it belongs to everyday english. CoCap’s syllabus files every structure this way so you can learn in order instead of jumping between whatever a search happened to return.
Reading it is not the same as saying it.
CoCap turns this page into practice: Hindi sentence in, English sentence out, corrected one thing at a time. Free, no card.
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