“Can I have a question?”
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Is this phrase used at all by native speakers? After almost 20 years of studying and speaking English, I've been told this is a phrase that almost every Czech speaker gets wrong - it seems that even my university english teachers got it wrong, which is mindblowing to me. The fact that I did not get this corrected by anyone during my whole life makes it very surreal - "Can I ask a question?" sounds correct to me, however "Can I have a question?" feels better.
Is this phrase really incorrect? How foreign does it sound to a native speaker?
phrases questions
asked Mar 1 '16 at 19:12
user129186
14316
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
Is this phrase used at all by native speakers? After almost 20 years of studying and speaking English, I've been told this is a phrase that almost every Czech speaker gets wrong - it seems that even my university english teachers got it wrong, which is mindblowing to me. The fact that I did not get this corrected by anyone during my whole life makes it very surreal - "Can I ask a question?" sounds correct to me, however "Can I have a question?" feels better.
Is this phrase really incorrect? How foreign does it sound to a native speaker?
phrases questions
asked Mar 1 '16 at 19:12
user129186
14316
1
When you have a question, you already possess it. You've got it in your hands. When you want other people to weigh in on it, you then ask it.
– Dan Bron
Mar 1 '16 at 19:17
1
Can I has cheezburger?
– A.S.
Mar 1 '16 at 19:42
1
“Can I ask a question?” means there is something you don’t know, and you’re asking for permission to ask someone else about it. “Can I have a question?” means you are inviting other people to ask you a question, presuming that you are likely to know the answer.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
2 days ago
add a comment |
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
Is this phrase used at all by native speakers? After almost 20 years of studying and speaking English, I've been told this is a phrase that almost every Czech speaker gets wrong - it seems that even my university english teachers got it wrong, which is mindblowing to me. The fact that I did not get this corrected by anyone during my whole life makes it very surreal - "Can I ask a question?" sounds correct to me, however "Can I have a question?" feels better.
Is this phrase really incorrect? How foreign does it sound to a native speaker?
phrases questions
asked Mar 1 '16 at 19:12
user129186
14316
Is this phrase used at all by native speakers? After almost 20 years of studying and speaking English, I've been told this is a phrase that almost every Czech speaker gets wrong - it seems that even my university english teachers got it wrong, which is mindblowing to me. The fact that I did not get this corrected by anyone during my whole life makes it very surreal - "Can I ask a question?" sounds correct to me, however "Can I have a question?" feels better.
Is this phrase really incorrect? How foreign does it sound to a native speaker?
phrases questions
phrases questions
asked Mar 1 '16 at 19:12
user129186
14316
asked Mar 1 '16 at 19:12
user129186
14316
asked Mar 1 '16 at 19:12
user129186
14316
asked Mar 1 '16 at 19:12
user129186
14316
asked Mar 1 '16 at 19:12
user129186
14316
14316
1
When you have a question, you already possess it. You've got it in your hands. When you want other people to weigh in on it, you then ask it.
– Dan Bron
Mar 1 '16 at 19:17
1
Can I has cheezburger?
– A.S.
Mar 1 '16 at 19:42
1
“Can I ask a question?” means there is something you don’t know, and you’re asking for permission to ask someone else about it. “Can I have a question?” means you are inviting other people to ask you a question, presuming that you are likely to know the answer.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
2 days ago
add a comment |
1
When you have a question, you already possess it. You've got it in your hands. When you want other people to weigh in on it, you then ask it.
– Dan Bron
Mar 1 '16 at 19:17
1
Can I has cheezburger?
– A.S.
Mar 1 '16 at 19:42
1
“Can I ask a question?” means there is something you don’t know, and you’re asking for permission to ask someone else about it. “Can I have a question?” means you are inviting other people to ask you a question, presuming that you are likely to know the answer.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
2 days ago
1
1
When you have a question, you already possess it. You've got it in your hands. When you want other people to weigh in on it, you then ask it.
– Dan Bron
Mar 1 '16 at 19:17
When you have a question, you already possess it. You've got it in your hands. When you want other people to weigh in on it, you then ask it.
– Dan Bron
Mar 1 '16 at 19:17
1
1
Can I has cheezburger?
– A.S.
Mar 1 '16 at 19:42
Can I has cheezburger?
– A.S.
Mar 1 '16 at 19:42
1
1
“Can I ask a question?” means there is something you don’t know, and you’re asking for permission to ask someone else about it. “Can I have a question?” means you are inviting other people to ask you a question, presuming that you are likely to know the answer.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
2 days ago
“Can I ask a question?” means there is something you don’t know, and you’re asking for permission to ask someone else about it. “Can I have a question?” means you are inviting other people to ask you a question, presuming that you are likely to know the answer.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
2 days ago
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
No, this is not a phrase that any native speaker would use, and yes it is incorrect. One would either say "I have a question" or "May / Can I ask a question" instead.
answered Mar 1 '16 at 21:04
VoodooBettie
96548
'Can I have a question?' makes sense if there is a quiz master with many questions to ask of contestants. If one of the contestants is feeling left out they might ask this question. Precisely this usage has come up recently in one of the Republican debates I think.
– Dan
Mar 2 '16 at 0:08
"Can I ask a question?" always seemed paradoxical to me. I like "I have a question." much better but I hardly ever hear it.
– Steven Gregory
Mar 2 '16 at 2:52
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
"Can I ask a question?" is commonly said, but better still is "May I ask a question?" "Can" generally refers to having the ability to do something, whereas "may" is a way of asking permission to do something. This is a fine point that is becoming less of an issue in English speaking (many avoid "may" because it is also used to mean "perhaps," and in certain contexts could be confusing), but I've never heard any native English speaker say, "Can I have a question?"
1
Thanks for the contribution, but ultimately the bulk of your answer is addressing a question which wasn't asked. Might be better to delete this and offer your final sentence ("I've never heard a native English speaker...") as a comment.
– Dan Bron
Mar 1 '16 at 19:52
yikes. I'd forgotten why I've given up on this site. Thanks for the reminder
– user66965
Mar 2 '16 at 21:27
add a comment |
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
2 Answers
2
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
No, this is not a phrase that any native speaker would use, and yes it is incorrect. One would either say "I have a question" or "May / Can I ask a question" instead.
answered Mar 1 '16 at 21:04
VoodooBettie
96548
'Can I have a question?' makes sense if there is a quiz master with many questions to ask of contestants. If one of the contestants is feeling left out they might ask this question. Precisely this usage has come up recently in one of the Republican debates I think.
– Dan
Mar 2 '16 at 0:08
"Can I ask a question?" always seemed paradoxical to me. I like "I have a question." much better but I hardly ever hear it.
– Steven Gregory
Mar 2 '16 at 2:52
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
No, this is not a phrase that any native speaker would use, and yes it is incorrect. One would either say "I have a question" or "May / Can I ask a question" instead.
answered Mar 1 '16 at 21:04
VoodooBettie
96548
'Can I have a question?' makes sense if there is a quiz master with many questions to ask of contestants. If one of the contestants is feeling left out they might ask this question. Precisely this usage has come up recently in one of the Republican debates I think.
– Dan
Mar 2 '16 at 0:08
"Can I ask a question?" always seemed paradoxical to me. I like "I have a question." much better but I hardly ever hear it.
– Steven Gregory
Mar 2 '16 at 2:52
add a comment |
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
up vote
5
down vote
accepted
No, this is not a phrase that any native speaker would use, and yes it is incorrect. One would either say "I have a question" or "May / Can I ask a question" instead.
answered Mar 1 '16 at 21:04
VoodooBettie
96548
No, this is not a phrase that any native speaker would use, and yes it is incorrect. One would either say "I have a question" or "May / Can I ask a question" instead.
answered Mar 1 '16 at 21:04
VoodooBettie
96548
answered Mar 1 '16 at 21:04
VoodooBettie
96548
answered Mar 1 '16 at 21:04
VoodooBettie
96548
answered Mar 1 '16 at 21:04
VoodooBettie
96548
96548
'Can I have a question?' makes sense if there is a quiz master with many questions to ask of contestants. If one of the contestants is feeling left out they might ask this question. Precisely this usage has come up recently in one of the Republican debates I think.
– Dan
Mar 2 '16 at 0:08
"Can I ask a question?" always seemed paradoxical to me. I like "I have a question." much better but I hardly ever hear it.
– Steven Gregory
Mar 2 '16 at 2:52
add a comment |
'Can I have a question?' makes sense if there is a quiz master with many questions to ask of contestants. If one of the contestants is feeling left out they might ask this question. Precisely this usage has come up recently in one of the Republican debates I think.
– Dan
Mar 2 '16 at 0:08
"Can I ask a question?" always seemed paradoxical to me. I like "I have a question." much better but I hardly ever hear it.
– Steven Gregory
Mar 2 '16 at 2:52
'Can I have a question?' makes sense if there is a quiz master with many questions to ask of contestants. If one of the contestants is feeling left out they might ask this question. Precisely this usage has come up recently in one of the Republican debates I think.
– Dan
Mar 2 '16 at 0:08
'Can I have a question?' makes sense if there is a quiz master with many questions to ask of contestants. If one of the contestants is feeling left out they might ask this question. Precisely this usage has come up recently in one of the Republican debates I think.
– Dan
Mar 2 '16 at 0:08
"Can I ask a question?" always seemed paradoxical to me. I like "I have a question." much better but I hardly ever hear it.
– Steven Gregory
Mar 2 '16 at 2:52
"Can I ask a question?" always seemed paradoxical to me. I like "I have a question." much better but I hardly ever hear it.
– Steven Gregory
Mar 2 '16 at 2:52
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
"Can I ask a question?" is commonly said, but better still is "May I ask a question?" "Can" generally refers to having the ability to do something, whereas "may" is a way of asking permission to do something. This is a fine point that is becoming less of an issue in English speaking (many avoid "may" because it is also used to mean "perhaps," and in certain contexts could be confusing), but I've never heard any native English speaker say, "Can I have a question?"
1
Thanks for the contribution, but ultimately the bulk of your answer is addressing a question which wasn't asked. Might be better to delete this and offer your final sentence ("I've never heard a native English speaker...") as a comment.
– Dan Bron
Mar 1 '16 at 19:52
yikes. I'd forgotten why I've given up on this site. Thanks for the reminder
– user66965
Mar 2 '16 at 21:27
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
"Can I ask a question?" is commonly said, but better still is "May I ask a question?" "Can" generally refers to having the ability to do something, whereas "may" is a way of asking permission to do something. This is a fine point that is becoming less of an issue in English speaking (many avoid "may" because it is also used to mean "perhaps," and in certain contexts could be confusing), but I've never heard any native English speaker say, "Can I have a question?"
1
Thanks for the contribution, but ultimately the bulk of your answer is addressing a question which wasn't asked. Might be better to delete this and offer your final sentence ("I've never heard a native English speaker...") as a comment.
– Dan Bron
Mar 1 '16 at 19:52
yikes. I'd forgotten why I've given up on this site. Thanks for the reminder
– user66965
Mar 2 '16 at 21:27
add a comment |
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
"Can I ask a question?" is commonly said, but better still is "May I ask a question?" "Can" generally refers to having the ability to do something, whereas "may" is a way of asking permission to do something. This is a fine point that is becoming less of an issue in English speaking (many avoid "may" because it is also used to mean "perhaps," and in certain contexts could be confusing), but I've never heard any native English speaker say, "Can I have a question?"
"Can I ask a question?" is commonly said, but better still is "May I ask a question?" "Can" generally refers to having the ability to do something, whereas "may" is a way of asking permission to do something. This is a fine point that is becoming less of an issue in English speaking (many avoid "may" because it is also used to mean "perhaps," and in certain contexts could be confusing), but I've never heard any native English speaker say, "Can I have a question?"
answered Mar 1 '16 at 19:40
user66965
1
Thanks for the contribution, but ultimately the bulk of your answer is addressing a question which wasn't asked. Might be better to delete this and offer your final sentence ("I've never heard a native English speaker...") as a comment.
– Dan Bron
Mar 1 '16 at 19:52
yikes. I'd forgotten why I've given up on this site. Thanks for the reminder
– user66965
Mar 2 '16 at 21:27
add a comment |
1
Thanks for the contribution, but ultimately the bulk of your answer is addressing a question which wasn't asked. Might be better to delete this and offer your final sentence ("I've never heard a native English speaker...") as a comment.
– Dan Bron
Mar 1 '16 at 19:52
yikes. I'd forgotten why I've given up on this site. Thanks for the reminder
– user66965
Mar 2 '16 at 21:27
1
1
Thanks for the contribution, but ultimately the bulk of your answer is addressing a question which wasn't asked. Might be better to delete this and offer your final sentence ("I've never heard a native English speaker...") as a comment.
– Dan Bron
Mar 1 '16 at 19:52
Thanks for the contribution, but ultimately the bulk of your answer is addressing a question which wasn't asked. Might be better to delete this and offer your final sentence ("I've never heard a native English speaker...") as a comment.
– Dan Bron
Mar 1 '16 at 19:52
yikes. I'd forgotten why I've given up on this site. Thanks for the reminder
– user66965
Mar 2 '16 at 21:27
yikes. I'd forgotten why I've given up on this site. Thanks for the reminder
– user66965
Mar 2 '16 at 21:27
add a comment |
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1
When you have a question, you already possess it. You've got it in your hands. When you want other people to weigh in on it, you then ask it.
– Dan Bron
Mar 1 '16 at 19:17
1
Can I has cheezburger?
– A.S.
Mar 1 '16 at 19:42
1
“Can I ask a question?” means there is something you don’t know, and you’re asking for permission to ask someone else about it. “Can I have a question?” means you are inviting other people to ask you a question, presuming that you are likely to know the answer.
– Janus Bahs Jacquet
2 days ago