well, first of all I have to say that I’m from chile so that’s why my english is kinda poor.
my doubt is(I’ll put it in context):
I’m telling to a friend that I’m having problems with something and I want him to give me an advice, can I ask him something like “what may I do?“or it has to be “what can I do?”,“what could I do?”

well, that’s my doubt thanks for reading and the answers (if it’s the case jajaja)

What may I do for you is more correct than using can, which enquires about your ability rather than your willingness to do something.

Though ‘may’ is more correct, it is rarely used in speech. People use ‘can’ to mean the same thing instead.

I agree with Eddie.

“What could I do” suggest past i.e. “What could I have done”

thx u so much for the answers, but i have a doubt…in case im asking for an advice instead of offering my help, would it be wrong to say: what may I do?

That’s wrong. If you’re asking if you’re able to do something, then you must use ‘can,’ not ‘may.’

Search both words in google, and you will receive definitions and usage notes on both, as you are not the only one who has trouble differentiating them.

To sum up, can and may are used (can more regularly in modern English) to enquire about one’s willingness to do something, while only can is used to enquire about one’s ability to do something.

post to bring thread to forum.

iancin, you are not alone in the may/can confusion. The two words are used almost interchangeably.

Children will ask, “Can I go outside?” and mom’s will reply, “You can, but I’m not sure that you may” as a way of teaching the difference. But the same mom is very likely to say to a friend, “Can I ask you a personal question?”

May is certainly more proper when asking permission, but it slowly being replaced by can.

English speakers have similar problems with may/might and shall/will.

And to make things more confusing, there is no perfect aspect with ‘might.’ So the past tense uses ‘have.’

Hadn’t thought about that before.

The the pluperfect singular present subjunctive??

pluperfect

Nice word.

Does sound better than past perfect. Has more of a fancy feel to it.

First verse of a song called “I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal.” Note the reference to pluperfect.

I’m just an old chunk of coal
But I’m gonna be a diamond some day
I’m gonna grow and glow ‘til I’m so plu pure perfect
I’m gonna put a smile on ev’rybody’s face
I’m gonna kneel and pray ev’ry day
Lest I should become vain along the way
I’m just and old chunk of coal now Lord
But I’m gonna be a diamond some day

Further to post #8 above, note also that may, when denoting permission, has no past tense.  It is possible to say:

“You can’t go out.  If it were warmer, you could”

but it is not possible to say (in the ‘permission’ sense):

“You may not go out.  If it were warmer, you might”.

Ah, so British.