I teach young children English as a second language and would like your opinions on this: which do you think is more modern (so, up-to-date) for them to learn;
Can you pass me that book, please? OR
Can you give me that book, please?
In my time, pass was the correct form but is it too over the top these days? Give always seems like an order!
Hope you can help.
butterflies Wed 02/07/08 19:53
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First of all I'd be wary of using the word 'can' - you might have some smart alecs in the class like one of my sons when he was younger. If he was in a 'funny' mood and you asked him 'can you give me the....' His answer was 'yes' and then I'd be waiting. He'd then go on 'yes, physically I am able to give you the...' Oh, do you want it?' So I used to rephrase my question to 'would you give me the ...'.
Sorry I digress from your question. What about 'would you hand me that book please?'
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‘Can' has been used colloquially to imply a request for permission for over a century and a half, so it is long past time for pedants to stop saying only ‘may' should be thus employed.
"Can I see the manager?" is perfectly acceptable in day-to-day spoken usage. Only in situations where extreme politeness and formality are called for is there any need to insist on ‘may'. "Sir, may I have your daughter's hand in marriage?" is nowadays the only sort of situation in which ‘may' might reasonably be said to be necessary.
So, Foxlee, you should really have told your son that he was 'way out of date in his pedantry!
'Give' would certainly be more modern, Butterflies, but 'pass', in the circumstances would - even now - probably be the more appropriate.
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Quizmonster - it usually ended up with 'give me the salt NOW or else!'
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I'm delighted to hear it, Foxlee! More insistence on obedience is what the world needs parents to demand nowadays.
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Question Author
Thank you very much both of you.
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Please pass the smelling salts, (to me). Thank you.
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I think you should consider the language of the student if you are able to do so. I would avoid CAN or WOULD YOU LIKE as the answer could be no!
Try -Give me the book ,please. Would you give me the book.
I suppose it depends upon what you are trying to acheive and under what circumstances.
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I would say give if they had the book directly in their possession, and pass if it was - say - on the table, but nearer to them
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Question Author
Very good point karen. I'll stick to that.
These kids speak French so I'm teaching them the kind of English they will come across when they meet up with english-speaking people.
Thank you everybody.
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please pass me the book or pass me the book please
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Or there's always "Gimme that book!"
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