Need some help explaining the differences between Can I ? and I Can 4

[Chance1234]

Working with a brazillian guy at the moment, who knows very little english (though he can dismantle a jacuzzi in lighting time).

Problem I'm having is he uses "Can I", for both the question form and also as a statement, instead of saying I Can.

As im relaying instructions, trying to teach him the difference between the two but no having much luck. Anyone got any ideas here ?

Chance,

Filmmaker, gentleman and polla stilo eleous

 

[Welshbird]

How abut "Can I eat your lunch?" compared to "I can buy you another sandwich"....

Fee

The question should be [red]Is it worth trying to do?[/red] not [blue] Can it be done?[/blue]

 

[Fenrirshowl]

Does he know how to use the word "please" correctly?

If so, tell him to use such questions as "Please can I" and if no "please" is needed, it's most likely not a question and should be "I can".

Fen

 

[CajunCenturion]

You could start by asking him to use 'may' with questions, and 'can' with statements.

--------------
Good Luck
To get the most from your Tek-Tips experience, please read FAQ181-2886
As a circle of light increases so does the circumference of darkness around it. - Albert Einstein

 

[Chacalinc]

Instead trying to explain something in english, could someone from here who speaks portugues write a little letter explaining the difference? then Chance1234 can print it and show it to the brazilian guy.

Cheers,

Chacal, Inc.

 

[tsdragon]

I agree with CC: teach him to ask "may I" and assert "I can". There will be less confusion that way, and he will be learning proper english.

I learned the difference between "Can I?" and "May I?" the hard way. Every time I asked my mother something like "Mom, can I go to the store?" she would always respond, "I don't know, can you?" I learned quickly that if I wanted a real answer I had to ask correctly.

Tracy Dryden

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

 

[SantaMufasa]

Chance, I'm hoping that the special Portuguese characters, below, display properly in the Tek-Tips posting. If they don't, I'm happy to send you a copy of the translation via e-mail.

So, hoping that it prints properly, try this on "Senhor Jacuzzi":

Em inglês, "Can I" é sempre uma pergunta que pede "Faz tenho a capacidade". "I Can" é sempre uma declaração que declara que “tenho a capacidade”.

"May I" é sempre uma pergunta pedindo "Faço tenho permissão". "I may" é uma declaração declarando isso "é possível que faço algo".

In English, "Can I" is always a question that asks "Do I have the ability". "I Can" is always a statement that declares that I have the ability.

"May I" is always a question asking "Do I have permission". "I may" is a statement declaring that "it is possible that I do something."

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[straybullet]

SantaMufasa, you never cease to amaze me!

Let them hate - so long as they fear... Lucius Accius

 

[gbaughma]

Dave:

Quite eloquent. Very nice indeed.



Just my 2¢

"When I die, I want people to say 'There was a wise man' instead of 'Finally, his mouth is shut!'" --Me
--Greg

http://parallel.tzo.com

 

[ESquared]

SantaMufasa, did you do the translation yourself?

 

[SantaMufasa]

I must take blame if there is anything amiss. Did you find something that I must correct/adjust?

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[ESquared]

No, I didn't see any errors. I was just curious if you actually speak Portuguese or if you got help. I was going to get my wife to help, but she forgot, and I forgot, and eventually I came back and you had already posted.

Here's what I wrote but didn't post because I was going to get her help to make it grammatically correct. I did cheat and use Priberam portuguese-only dictionary to make sure I spelled things right and got verb tenses correct:

Em Inglês, a seqüência das palavras é diferente para interrogativos e declarativos. Quando inquirindo, use você:

[verbo] [pronome]?
Can I? Quero determinar si eu poderia fazer alguma coisa.
May I? Quero determinar si eu tenho permissão fazer alguma coisa.

Quando pronunciando, use
[pronome] [verbo]!
I can. Estou pronunciando que eu posso fazer alguma coisa (can)
I may. Eu tenho permissão fazer alguma coisa. Ou, está possivel que eu fazerei.

Muito sorte para você para aprender Inglês... estou aprendendo Português e é difícil. (Minha esposa é Brasileira, ela é da Fortaleza.)

 

[ESquared]

That didn't come out very well: "if you actually speak Portuguese." I just thought you wrote well and was curious if you are fluent.

 

[ESquared]

Although "faz tenho" is odd.

 

[Chacalinc]

SantaMufasa and ESquared did an excellent work (thanks!), but Chance1234: did you show the letter to the guy?

Cheers,

Chacal, Inc.

 

[SantaMufasa]

I'm much more fluent in Spanish and self taught in Brazilian Portuguese, ergo my awkwardness of "faz tenho" for example. But, I'll never improve if I pass up chances to use it...so here I am, warts and all. <grin>

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[fredericofonseca]

Chance1234,

Please ask the guy to post here directly, in Portuguese as I may be able to help (I am Portuguese).

If for some reason he can not post here, then ask him to post the questions in Portuguese to you and then post them here.

I will try and help on what I can.

Better create a new thread though.

For the SantaMufasa.

"Faz tenho a capacidade".
Should be
"Tenho a capacidade de fazer ?"
or
"Tenho capacidade para fazer?"

and
"Faço tenho permissão"
should be
"tenho permissão para fazer?"
or
"Tenho autorização para fazer?"

Regards

Frederico Fonseca
SysSoft Integrated Ltd

http://www.syssoft-int.com

 

[SantaMufasa]

Cool, Frederico ! Thanks for posting...Hava

for your willingness to help and for your "Portuguesity" [Viva Carnivál ]

Mufasa
(aka Dave of Sandy, Utah, USA)
[I provide low-cost, remote Database Administration services: www.dasages.com]

 

[Thadeus]

Portuguesity - Santa, thank you for the Friday afternoon giggle.

~Thadeus

 

[ESquared]

Anyone have help for me to learn Portuguese a little better?

I see I missed at least a couple of paras before my fazers.