“May I come in?” is misleading?
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Yesterday I saw a lesson of English on TV. The teacher asked to some people to translate (from Italian) some expression. One is: "What can you say to a person to invite him into your office?" and lot of people answer: "Can you come in my office?". The teacher said that it is wrong, because it sound like an erotic invite and the correct sentence is "Can you come to/into my office?" Is it correct? Because here: What do I have to say when I enter into a house? someone answer me to say "May I come in?". Is it misleading?
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edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:38
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asked May 30 '11 at 21:39
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Yesterday I saw a lesson of English on TV. The teacher asked to some people to translate (from Italian) some expression. One is: "What can you say to a person to invite him into your office?" and lot of people answer: "Can you come in my office?". The teacher said that it is wrong, because it sound like an erotic invite and the correct sentence is "Can you come to/into my office?" Is it correct? Because here: What do I have to say when I enter into a house? someone answer me to say "May I come in?". Is it misleading?
meaning-in-context
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:38
Community♦
1
asked May 30 '11 at 21:39
wiso
4324819
add a comment |
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
up vote
3
down vote
favorite
Yesterday I saw a lesson of English on TV. The teacher asked to some people to translate (from Italian) some expression. One is: "What can you say to a person to invite him into your office?" and lot of people answer: "Can you come in my office?". The teacher said that it is wrong, because it sound like an erotic invite and the correct sentence is "Can you come to/into my office?" Is it correct? Because here: What do I have to say when I enter into a house? someone answer me to say "May I come in?". Is it misleading?
meaning-in-context
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:38
Community♦
1
asked May 30 '11 at 21:39
wiso
4324819
Yesterday I saw a lesson of English on TV. The teacher asked to some people to translate (from Italian) some expression. One is: "What can you say to a person to invite him into your office?" and lot of people answer: "Can you come in my office?". The teacher said that it is wrong, because it sound like an erotic invite and the correct sentence is "Can you come to/into my office?" Is it correct? Because here: What do I have to say when I enter into a house? someone answer me to say "May I come in?". Is it misleading?
meaning-in-context
meaning-in-context
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:38
Community♦
1
asked May 30 '11 at 21:39
wiso
4324819
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:38
Community♦
1
asked May 30 '11 at 21:39
wiso
4324819
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:38
Community♦
1
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:38
Community♦
1
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:38
Community♦
1
1
asked May 30 '11 at 21:39
wiso
4324819
asked May 30 '11 at 21:39
wiso
4324819
asked May 30 '11 at 21:39
wiso
4324819
4324819
add a comment |
add a comment |
3 Answers
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6
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"Come in" is the right translation of entrare.
But with a location it would normally suggest movement from one place to another. English doesn't really use cases to communicate this, so we use prepositions like into and out of to indicate movement. Therefore "come into my office" would be correct.
"Come in my office" suggests an action which takes place entirely inside the office - the sense of entering is lost - so it's easy for someone with a vulgar mind to think of the ... sexual meaning of the verb "come". The true meaning would still be understood, but saying/writing it this way might produce sniggering from teenage boys.
answered May 30 '11 at 22:37
njd
2,1951311
Yes. The use of prepositions is one of the most idiosyncratic parts of English (and other languages). I have experience of French writers who clearly did not grasp the difference between "in" and "into" in English (my guess is that they had been taught that "in" means "dans" and "into" means "en", but I may be wrong). But as njd implies, "come in" is an intransitive phrasal verb with its own structure. "Come into" is not a phrasal verb (except in the specialised sense of "inherit"), so "come into my office" parses as "come [into my office]".
– Colin Fine
May 31 '11 at 14:00
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up vote
1
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"Can you come in my office" does not sound like an erotic invitation. The problem with that sentence is that "come" is being used as a verb of motion with respect to "my office", so you need a preposition that refers to motion, rather than "in" which refers to being static.
"May I come in?" is different because although the action is literally the same, there is no (stated) object to pass "into" - instead once one has "come", one will be "in". (And for the foreign reader, that last sentence does sound like cheap innuendo).
answered May 30 '11 at 21:51
Marcin
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up vote
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"Come into" and "come to" are better than "come in" because they convey transition (from outside to inside). As njd said, "come in" is inviting snickering from teen boys.
The other aspect of your question is "can" versus "may". "Can" is about ability while "may" is about permission, so "can you come" (are you able to come) and "may I come" (do I have permission to come) are the right forms there. When asking someone else to meet/join you, you may also see "will you" (are you agreeable to this).
I suggest avoiding "can I come in?", which will prompt the smart-alecks to say "I don't know, can you?" -- that is, are you capable of doing so?
answered May 30 '11 at 22:57
Monica Cellio
15.9k44380
Technically it is true that one should use "may" instead of "can" to ask permission; but most native English speakers get this wrong too, and they normally say "Can I ..." (or "Could I ..." if being more polite).
– njd
May 31 '11 at 9:49
"Could" is a good alternative. As you say, lots of native speakers say "can" and are understood. If you're not thinking about it, you'll say whatever comes out; wiso is obviously thinking about it, so may as well try to avoid "can". :-)
– Monica Cellio
May 31 '11 at 12:20
@njd: Or to put it another way, some time ago some pedagogues arbitrarily decided that we shouldn't say "can I" for permission and started bullying children into speaking their way rather than ordinary English. ;-)
– Colin Fine
May 31 '11 at 13:51
add a comment |
protected by MetaEd♦ Nov 16 at 20:01
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Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
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3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
"Come in" is the right translation of entrare.
But with a location it would normally suggest movement from one place to another. English doesn't really use cases to communicate this, so we use prepositions like into and out of to indicate movement. Therefore "come into my office" would be correct.
"Come in my office" suggests an action which takes place entirely inside the office - the sense of entering is lost - so it's easy for someone with a vulgar mind to think of the ... sexual meaning of the verb "come". The true meaning would still be understood, but saying/writing it this way might produce sniggering from teenage boys.
answered May 30 '11 at 22:37
njd
2,1951311
Yes. The use of prepositions is one of the most idiosyncratic parts of English (and other languages). I have experience of French writers who clearly did not grasp the difference between "in" and "into" in English (my guess is that they had been taught that "in" means "dans" and "into" means "en", but I may be wrong). But as njd implies, "come in" is an intransitive phrasal verb with its own structure. "Come into" is not a phrasal verb (except in the specialised sense of "inherit"), so "come into my office" parses as "come [into my office]".
– Colin Fine
May 31 '11 at 14:00
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
"Come in" is the right translation of entrare.
But with a location it would normally suggest movement from one place to another. English doesn't really use cases to communicate this, so we use prepositions like into and out of to indicate movement. Therefore "come into my office" would be correct.
"Come in my office" suggests an action which takes place entirely inside the office - the sense of entering is lost - so it's easy for someone with a vulgar mind to think of the ... sexual meaning of the verb "come". The true meaning would still be understood, but saying/writing it this way might produce sniggering from teenage boys.
answered May 30 '11 at 22:37
njd
2,1951311
Yes. The use of prepositions is one of the most idiosyncratic parts of English (and other languages). I have experience of French writers who clearly did not grasp the difference between "in" and "into" in English (my guess is that they had been taught that "in" means "dans" and "into" means "en", but I may be wrong). But as njd implies, "come in" is an intransitive phrasal verb with its own structure. "Come into" is not a phrasal verb (except in the specialised sense of "inherit"), so "come into my office" parses as "come [into my office]".
– Colin Fine
May 31 '11 at 14:00
add a comment |
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
up vote
6
down vote
accepted
"Come in" is the right translation of entrare.
But with a location it would normally suggest movement from one place to another. English doesn't really use cases to communicate this, so we use prepositions like into and out of to indicate movement. Therefore "come into my office" would be correct.
"Come in my office" suggests an action which takes place entirely inside the office - the sense of entering is lost - so it's easy for someone with a vulgar mind to think of the ... sexual meaning of the verb "come". The true meaning would still be understood, but saying/writing it this way might produce sniggering from teenage boys.
answered May 30 '11 at 22:37
njd
2,1951311
"Come in" is the right translation of entrare.
But with a location it would normally suggest movement from one place to another. English doesn't really use cases to communicate this, so we use prepositions like into and out of to indicate movement. Therefore "come into my office" would be correct.
"Come in my office" suggests an action which takes place entirely inside the office - the sense of entering is lost - so it's easy for someone with a vulgar mind to think of the ... sexual meaning of the verb "come". The true meaning would still be understood, but saying/writing it this way might produce sniggering from teenage boys.
answered May 30 '11 at 22:37
njd
2,1951311
answered May 30 '11 at 22:37
njd
2,1951311
answered May 30 '11 at 22:37
njd
2,1951311
answered May 30 '11 at 22:37
njd
2,1951311
2,1951311
Yes. The use of prepositions is one of the most idiosyncratic parts of English (and other languages). I have experience of French writers who clearly did not grasp the difference between "in" and "into" in English (my guess is that they had been taught that "in" means "dans" and "into" means "en", but I may be wrong). But as njd implies, "come in" is an intransitive phrasal verb with its own structure. "Come into" is not a phrasal verb (except in the specialised sense of "inherit"), so "come into my office" parses as "come [into my office]".
– Colin Fine
May 31 '11 at 14:00
add a comment |
Yes. The use of prepositions is one of the most idiosyncratic parts of English (and other languages). I have experience of French writers who clearly did not grasp the difference between "in" and "into" in English (my guess is that they had been taught that "in" means "dans" and "into" means "en", but I may be wrong). But as njd implies, "come in" is an intransitive phrasal verb with its own structure. "Come into" is not a phrasal verb (except in the specialised sense of "inherit"), so "come into my office" parses as "come [into my office]".
– Colin Fine
May 31 '11 at 14:00
Yes. The use of prepositions is one of the most idiosyncratic parts of English (and other languages). I have experience of French writers who clearly did not grasp the difference between "in" and "into" in English (my guess is that they had been taught that "in" means "dans" and "into" means "en", but I may be wrong). But as njd implies, "come in" is an intransitive phrasal verb with its own structure. "Come into" is not a phrasal verb (except in the specialised sense of "inherit"), so "come into my office" parses as "come [into my office]".
– Colin Fine
May 31 '11 at 14:00
Yes. The use of prepositions is one of the most idiosyncratic parts of English (and other languages). I have experience of French writers who clearly did not grasp the difference between "in" and "into" in English (my guess is that they had been taught that "in" means "dans" and "into" means "en", but I may be wrong). But as njd implies, "come in" is an intransitive phrasal verb with its own structure. "Come into" is not a phrasal verb (except in the specialised sense of "inherit"), so "come into my office" parses as "come [into my office]".
– Colin Fine
May 31 '11 at 14:00
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
"Can you come in my office" does not sound like an erotic invitation. The problem with that sentence is that "come" is being used as a verb of motion with respect to "my office", so you need a preposition that refers to motion, rather than "in" which refers to being static.
"May I come in?" is different because although the action is literally the same, there is no (stated) object to pass "into" - instead once one has "come", one will be "in". (And for the foreign reader, that last sentence does sound like cheap innuendo).
answered May 30 '11 at 21:51
Marcin
4,4581421
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
"Can you come in my office" does not sound like an erotic invitation. The problem with that sentence is that "come" is being used as a verb of motion with respect to "my office", so you need a preposition that refers to motion, rather than "in" which refers to being static.
"May I come in?" is different because although the action is literally the same, there is no (stated) object to pass "into" - instead once one has "come", one will be "in". (And for the foreign reader, that last sentence does sound like cheap innuendo).
answered May 30 '11 at 21:51
Marcin
4,4581421
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
"Can you come in my office" does not sound like an erotic invitation. The problem with that sentence is that "come" is being used as a verb of motion with respect to "my office", so you need a preposition that refers to motion, rather than "in" which refers to being static.
"May I come in?" is different because although the action is literally the same, there is no (stated) object to pass "into" - instead once one has "come", one will be "in". (And for the foreign reader, that last sentence does sound like cheap innuendo).
answered May 30 '11 at 21:51
Marcin
4,4581421
"Can you come in my office" does not sound like an erotic invitation. The problem with that sentence is that "come" is being used as a verb of motion with respect to "my office", so you need a preposition that refers to motion, rather than "in" which refers to being static.
"May I come in?" is different because although the action is literally the same, there is no (stated) object to pass "into" - instead once one has "come", one will be "in". (And for the foreign reader, that last sentence does sound like cheap innuendo).
answered May 30 '11 at 21:51
Marcin
4,4581421
answered May 30 '11 at 21:51
Marcin
4,4581421
answered May 30 '11 at 21:51
Marcin
4,4581421
answered May 30 '11 at 21:51
Marcin
4,4581421
4,4581421
add a comment |
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
"Come into" and "come to" are better than "come in" because they convey transition (from outside to inside). As njd said, "come in" is inviting snickering from teen boys.
The other aspect of your question is "can" versus "may". "Can" is about ability while "may" is about permission, so "can you come" (are you able to come) and "may I come" (do I have permission to come) are the right forms there. When asking someone else to meet/join you, you may also see "will you" (are you agreeable to this).
I suggest avoiding "can I come in?", which will prompt the smart-alecks to say "I don't know, can you?" -- that is, are you capable of doing so?
answered May 30 '11 at 22:57
Monica Cellio
15.9k44380
Technically it is true that one should use "may" instead of "can" to ask permission; but most native English speakers get this wrong too, and they normally say "Can I ..." (or "Could I ..." if being more polite).
– njd
May 31 '11 at 9:49
"Could" is a good alternative. As you say, lots of native speakers say "can" and are understood. If you're not thinking about it, you'll say whatever comes out; wiso is obviously thinking about it, so may as well try to avoid "can". :-)
– Monica Cellio
May 31 '11 at 12:20
@njd: Or to put it another way, some time ago some pedagogues arbitrarily decided that we shouldn't say "can I" for permission and started bullying children into speaking their way rather than ordinary English. ;-)
– Colin Fine
May 31 '11 at 13:51
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
"Come into" and "come to" are better than "come in" because they convey transition (from outside to inside). As njd said, "come in" is inviting snickering from teen boys.
The other aspect of your question is "can" versus "may". "Can" is about ability while "may" is about permission, so "can you come" (are you able to come) and "may I come" (do I have permission to come) are the right forms there. When asking someone else to meet/join you, you may also see "will you" (are you agreeable to this).
I suggest avoiding "can I come in?", which will prompt the smart-alecks to say "I don't know, can you?" -- that is, are you capable of doing so?
answered May 30 '11 at 22:57
Monica Cellio
15.9k44380
Technically it is true that one should use "may" instead of "can" to ask permission; but most native English speakers get this wrong too, and they normally say "Can I ..." (or "Could I ..." if being more polite).
– njd
May 31 '11 at 9:49
"Could" is a good alternative. As you say, lots of native speakers say "can" and are understood. If you're not thinking about it, you'll say whatever comes out; wiso is obviously thinking about it, so may as well try to avoid "can". :-)
– Monica Cellio
May 31 '11 at 12:20
@njd: Or to put it another way, some time ago some pedagogues arbitrarily decided that we shouldn't say "can I" for permission and started bullying children into speaking their way rather than ordinary English. ;-)
– Colin Fine
May 31 '11 at 13:51
add a comment |
up vote
1
down vote
up vote
1
down vote
"Come into" and "come to" are better than "come in" because they convey transition (from outside to inside). As njd said, "come in" is inviting snickering from teen boys.
The other aspect of your question is "can" versus "may". "Can" is about ability while "may" is about permission, so "can you come" (are you able to come) and "may I come" (do I have permission to come) are the right forms there. When asking someone else to meet/join you, you may also see "will you" (are you agreeable to this).
I suggest avoiding "can I come in?", which will prompt the smart-alecks to say "I don't know, can you?" -- that is, are you capable of doing so?
answered May 30 '11 at 22:57
Monica Cellio
15.9k44380
"Come into" and "come to" are better than "come in" because they convey transition (from outside to inside). As njd said, "come in" is inviting snickering from teen boys.
The other aspect of your question is "can" versus "may". "Can" is about ability while "may" is about permission, so "can you come" (are you able to come) and "may I come" (do I have permission to come) are the right forms there. When asking someone else to meet/join you, you may also see "will you" (are you agreeable to this).
I suggest avoiding "can I come in?", which will prompt the smart-alecks to say "I don't know, can you?" -- that is, are you capable of doing so?
answered May 30 '11 at 22:57
Monica Cellio
15.9k44380
answered May 30 '11 at 22:57
Monica Cellio
15.9k44380
answered May 30 '11 at 22:57
Monica Cellio
15.9k44380
answered May 30 '11 at 22:57
Monica Cellio
15.9k44380
15.9k44380
Technically it is true that one should use "may" instead of "can" to ask permission; but most native English speakers get this wrong too, and they normally say "Can I ..." (or "Could I ..." if being more polite).
– njd
May 31 '11 at 9:49
"Could" is a good alternative. As you say, lots of native speakers say "can" and are understood. If you're not thinking about it, you'll say whatever comes out; wiso is obviously thinking about it, so may as well try to avoid "can". :-)
– Monica Cellio
May 31 '11 at 12:20
@njd: Or to put it another way, some time ago some pedagogues arbitrarily decided that we shouldn't say "can I" for permission and started bullying children into speaking their way rather than ordinary English. ;-)
– Colin Fine
May 31 '11 at 13:51
add a comment |
Technically it is true that one should use "may" instead of "can" to ask permission; but most native English speakers get this wrong too, and they normally say "Can I ..." (or "Could I ..." if being more polite).
– njd
May 31 '11 at 9:49
"Could" is a good alternative. As you say, lots of native speakers say "can" and are understood. If you're not thinking about it, you'll say whatever comes out; wiso is obviously thinking about it, so may as well try to avoid "can". :-)
– Monica Cellio
May 31 '11 at 12:20
@njd: Or to put it another way, some time ago some pedagogues arbitrarily decided that we shouldn't say "can I" for permission and started bullying children into speaking their way rather than ordinary English. ;-)
– Colin Fine
May 31 '11 at 13:51
Technically it is true that one should use "may" instead of "can" to ask permission; but most native English speakers get this wrong too, and they normally say "Can I ..." (or "Could I ..." if being more polite).
– njd
May 31 '11 at 9:49
Technically it is true that one should use "may" instead of "can" to ask permission; but most native English speakers get this wrong too, and they normally say "Can I ..." (or "Could I ..." if being more polite).
– njd
May 31 '11 at 9:49
"Could" is a good alternative. As you say, lots of native speakers say "can" and are understood. If you're not thinking about it, you'll say whatever comes out; wiso is obviously thinking about it, so may as well try to avoid "can". :-)
– Monica Cellio
May 31 '11 at 12:20
"Could" is a good alternative. As you say, lots of native speakers say "can" and are understood. If you're not thinking about it, you'll say whatever comes out; wiso is obviously thinking about it, so may as well try to avoid "can". :-)
– Monica Cellio
May 31 '11 at 12:20
@njd: Or to put it another way, some time ago some pedagogues arbitrarily decided that we shouldn't say "can I" for permission and started bullying children into speaking their way rather than ordinary English. ;-)
– Colin Fine
May 31 '11 at 13:51
@njd: Or to put it another way, some time ago some pedagogues arbitrarily decided that we shouldn't say "can I" for permission and started bullying children into speaking their way rather than ordinary English. ;-)
– Colin Fine
May 31 '11 at 13:51
add a comment |
protected by MetaEd♦ Nov 16 at 20:01
Thank you for your interest in this question.
Because it has attracted low-quality or spam answers that had to be removed, posting an answer now requires 10 reputation on this site (the association bonus does not count).
Would you like to answer one of these unanswered questions instead?
