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- May you please is a polite and formal way of making a request. This phrase is conventionally used when you want somebody to do something for you in contexts that demand respect and politeness.
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Should I use'may you please' instead of 'would'?
Mar 28, 2024 · “May you please,” although often misconstrued as a polite phrase, is incorrect as “may” cannot be correctly followed by “you” when making a request. Instead, phrases like “may I ask” or “would you mind” are advisable for asking favors or making requests politely.
Pragmatically, May it please the court is an archaic formula expressing the speaker's deference to a presiding judge: an acknowledgment that strictly speaking nothing may occur (and nothing may be omitted) in the courtroom without the judge's permission.
- Is It Proper Grammar to Say “May You Please”?
- Alternative Expressions
- Final Thoughts
It is not correct to use the phrase “may you please” because, in essence, the words “may” and “you” cannot follow one another in that order when asking for permission. We can, however, say “May I please” and, in contrast, we can say “You may…,” which means that someone has permission to do something. As an example, the sentence “May you please open...
There are a few alternative phrases that are correct and that we can use instead of the phrase “May you please.” These include the use of other modal verbs such as can, could, will, and would.
The phrase “May you please” is incorrect because you cannot use the word “may” with the second-person pronoun “you” when making a request. However, you can certainly respond to a request by saying, “You may.” The correct alternative when making a request of someone would be to use another modal verb, such as “can,” “could,” “will,” or “would you pl...
(maybe the other person couldn't reach it!), although it is really being used to mean "Would you please pass the salt?". In this case, may is wrong because she is not asking or giving permission: she is making a request. So: may and can are used interchangeably when asking or giving permission.
“May you please” is grammatically incorrect when you’re requesting something from someone. You need to use “would you please” or “can you please” to make a request. “May” is used to ask for permission, which is wrong when you’re asking for somebody to do something. In all cases, when we use “may you please,” we follow it with a request.
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Introduction. In everyday conversation, the phrase ‘may you please’ can be a powerful tool, setting the tone for polite discourse and collaboration. Understanding its use and potential alternatives is part of refining our communication skills.
