Grand Avenue by Mike Thompson for January 24, 2019

He is right in this mostly.

The training of the next generation of Facebook Grammar Nazis. (My mother trained me the same way. LOL).

can= capable of; may= asking permission …kids learn the difference really quickly for a potty pass.

Improper grammar drives me batty!

Little do you know what riches your ignorance hides from you.

So the kid and the teacher coordinate their clothing daily?

Mike’s crayon selection is dwindling.

“Proper English”. . .now THERE’S an oxymoron. Would that be proper America English? British English? Australian English? And speaking “proper English” in no way assures you that true communication will take place. My sister and I speak “proper English” all the time, and it’s AMAZING how many times we completely misunderstand each other. . .to our everlasting amusement!

So the boy and the teacher are wearing steady shirts?

naw. I got it from my parents and grandparents, too!

“Can I ask you a question?” “You just showed yourself quite capable of asking a question.”

The substitute teacher told the kids that if they behaved themselves she would give them a French lesson. After they spent a good but of time quietly study, one student asked, “Can we have our French lesson now?” “Mais oui!” the teacher enthusiastically responded." “Alright, MAY we have our French lesson now?”

I have yet to hear anyone in any situation asking, “may I” instead of the more common, “can I”. Coworker to Boss: Can I take Monday off?

Grammar is all nice and neat and set until it isn’t. Words evolve, manner of speaking evolves, grammar evolves. How we scratch our heads at English spoken 500 years ago, future people will do the same with our language is my whole point. Let evolution do its thing and let’s hope “their, there, they’re” NEVER changes even in 2519!!!

I have yet to hear anyone in any situation asking, “may I” instead of the more common, “can I”. Coworker to Boss: Can I take Monday off?

Grammar is all nice and neat and set until it isn’t. Words evolve, manner of speaking evolves, grammar evolves. How we scratch our heads at English spoken 500 years ago, future people will do the same with our language is my whole point. Let evolution do its thing and let’s hope “their, there, they’re” NEVER changes even in 2519!!!

I hated this as a kid. I didn’t understand because “may” meant there was a possibility, as in “I may stop for groceries on the way home, if it’s not too late” or “I may go out to lunch with a coworker, so I won’t be free to call you” or “Maybe it wasn’t a good idea.”

Because of this, I didn’t get why “may” was any more appropriate for permission than “can.”

“May I have a taste?”“Certainly, there is a distinct possibility that you will be tasting it.”

what aggravates me: saying “for you and I” instead of “for you and me”. to get the correct answer, it has to be separated into “for you” and “for me”. who says “for I” ? commonly said incorrectly on tv nowadays.