Asking for Permission

• Formal:
  • "May I use the restroom?"
  • "Could I borrow your pen, please?"
  • "Would it be alright if I left early?"
• Informal:
  • "Can I go to the bathroom?"
  • "Can I use your phone?"

Giving Permission

• Formal:
  • "Certainly."
  • "By all means."
  • "You may."
  • "Please do."
• Informal:
  • "Sure."
  • "Go ahead."
  • "No problem."
  • "Of course."

Refusing Permission

• Formal:
  • "I'm afraid not."
  • "Unfortunately, that's not possible."
  • "I'm sorry, but you can't."
• Informal:
  • "No, you can't."
  • "I'm sorry, but that's not allowed."
  • "Not this time."

Other Ways to Express Permission

• "You are allowed to..."
• "You have permission to..."
• "I give you permission to..."

Key Points:

• "Can" is generally more informal than "may" or "could."
• "Could" is slightly more polite than "can."
• "May" is the most formal.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.