When someone says, "May I have a glass of water." do you answer, yes you may or yes you can.?

Question

My mom and I have a bet, which one is correct. Yes you may or yes you can.

Answer 1

Well saying yes you can is like "Yes, you are physically able to have a glass of water, although if I were you I'd drink it in a cup, not a pair of glasses you freak, oh by the way I got my cell phone back"

If you say yes you may you're saying" Yes, I give you enough permission to have enough water for seven-ten years. Have fun drinking you jerk, you don't even need me anymore, you know what, why were you talking to Braydon, hes an a*****e, I can't believe you, you should tell him you hate him or something cause he thinks your his friend."

Well...bye

Answer 2

the correct term is 'yes you may'. even though most people would say yes you can, that is wrong. it is supposed to be yes you may. i'm 100% positive on this.

so who won, you or your mom??????

Answer 3

Yes you may....

Would be proper!

Answer 4

Yes you may.  Yes you can indicates the ability to have the glass.

Answer 5

May I?

what is this england?

i answer "whatever just leave me alone, i'm watching TV"

Answer 6

You know,

In my life I have had a few people try and correct me when I ask, Can I.......... They would correct me and say "I dunno can you"

I never really got it and wanted to hurt those people.

Now that I am older, have gone to college (no degree in English here but it is my first language and I dedicated many years of it in school) I am now old enough to hit that person with a big book of "Don't you have anything better to do than to harass me"  ha ha..... Good question

Answer 7

yes you may.

Answer 8

This is funny!

I think It's "yes you may."

Answer 9

"Yes, you may."

Can denotes the ability. May denotes permission. A person can always have a glass of water, but on certain circumstances, he MAY not have one.

Besides, that someone already asked with a "may". Therefore, he is not asking whether he is able to have a glass of water. He is asking whether he may be able to have one.

Just remember this sentence whenever "may" and "can" confuses you:

"Yes you can, but you may not."

Answer 10

It's: "Yes, you may."  It's has to do with seeking permission.

"Can" is used when one has ability, or skill.  

("He can type 50 words per minute.")

- 17 years of parochial school with the nuns.

Answer 11

Either one is correct.

It is a myth that  "can" refers only to ability and not to permissibility. A good dictionary will tell you that "can" and "may" are both correct in this instance.

Answer 12

Yes, You may. Please, bring me back a glass of water while your in there.

Answer 13

i say ya u can

Answer 14

"Yes you may".

So, who won? ;)

Answer 15

"Yes you may" is the correct grammar.  Can is the ability to do something, like being physically capable to get a glass of water.  While may suggests permission, for instance, being allowed to get yourself a glass of water.

Answer 16

Whatever her answer to this question, your Mum is correct in teaching you to say "May I?" instead of "Can I?" In other languages, the distinction of politeness between the two is even greater than it is in English.