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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

"Can I get"

278 replies

Facilitatingdarkness · 07/09/2021 21:02

What's wrong with "Can I have"?

It doesn't even make grammatical sense! I've noticed it more and more when people are ordering coffee, to the point that more people say it than not.

Makes me irrationally angry. Just me?

OP posts:
AdobeWanKenobi · 07/09/2021 23:21

Before the dawn of the Internet language was spread only through travel or the TV.
Now we've had a couple of generations of kids raised with the Internet, watching YouTube as well as a thousand more tv channels showing content from all over the world.
Of course this means language will evolve. To some extent regional accents are dying out as well. I can't get excited about the changes personally.

Diverseopinions · 07/09/2021 23:21

'We want' is good. Why ask if you can get or have anything? The question isn't necessary. It's obvious you don't need to ask if you're in a shop and the item is sitting in front of you in the cabinet. "We want" is much more appropriate.

EatYourVegetables · 07/09/2021 23:25

Oh, have a grip (please). Grin

IceLace100 · 07/09/2021 23:29

Scottish people say "can I get..." more often. I don't think it's an Americanism.

Farfalle88 · 08/09/2021 00:01

I find it very rude. ‘Could I have ?’ Or may I have?’ , much better.

Farfalle88 · 08/09/2021 00:03

My pet hate is ‘reaching out’ however. Recently I was on an online chat with a shop and the answer to a question was ‘My bad’ not ‘so sorry I made a mistake’. Absolutely awful.

ichundich · 08/09/2021 00:09

Every few months there is a thread about this on MN without fail.

sandgrown · 08/09/2021 00:16

My English teacher's response to “can I get a coffee “ would be I don’t know can you ?

Anordinarymum · 08/09/2021 00:26

There are worse things to get angry over. My children say the 'can I get' thing and I do not. Different generations, different language, same objective.

Garriet · 08/09/2021 00:42

I say it to my husband, only because he has the same reaction to it as you, OP 😬

NowEvenBetter · 08/09/2021 00:45

I hope all these latte-wanters are saying it correctly and not ‘LAR TAY’ 😄
A lartay in the barth 🤢

BeenThruMoreThanALilBit · 08/09/2021 00:53

My English language teacher in the ‘70s taught us that there’s always a better alternative to “get”.

I agree. “Get” is imprecise.

irresistibleoverwhelm · 08/09/2021 01:26

@sandgrown

My English teacher's response to “can I get a coffee “ would be I don’t know can you ?
If anyone said “Can I have…” to her, my grandmother invariably replied: “You can, but you may not.”
Fluffypastelslippers · 08/09/2021 01:30

@Bloodypunkrockers

It was indeed Grin

FatJan · 08/09/2021 01:35

In France they say ‘Je vais prendre…’ which literally translates as ‘I’m going to take…’

Quelle horreur MN, non!? ‘Ow rude! Alors.

theThreeofWeevils · 08/09/2021 01:37

'An Americano, please.'

Plumtree391 · 08/09/2021 01:41

'May I have', would be better.

I was taught that 'got' and 'get' should be used minimally - and it 'gets' to me when I hear or see the words too often Grin.

(I won't mention 'gotten'.)

Plumtree391 · 08/09/2021 01:44

@Farfalle88

My pet hate is ‘reaching out’ however. Recently I was on an online chat with a shop and the answer to a question was ‘My bad’ not ‘so sorry I made a mistake’. Absolutely awful.
I've picked up the habit of saying 'My bad', recently Blush.
irresistibleoverwhelm · 08/09/2021 01:45

@Plumtree391

'May I have', would be better.

I was taught that 'got' and 'get' should be used minimally - and it 'gets' to me when I hear or see the words too often Grin.

(I won't mention 'gotten'.)

Yes indeed re may I have.

It used to be not only considered grammatically incorrect to say “Can” instead of “may”, but also extremely rude! “Get” would have been considered beyond the pale… 😂

LoveFall · 08/09/2021 02:15

I absolutely hate hearing "can I get" but not because its an Americanism. I think it sounds rude. I always say, "May I please have." But perhaps my old fogieness is coming out. I grew up in quite a strict Canadian family with a Father who valued good English language usage and manners.

Bit I hear "Can I get" all the time and correcting my grandchildren hasn't worked.

Ultraopaque · 08/09/2021 02:32

I agree op; it's horrid! And even worse in my humble opinion is "my bad" Envy < not envy

Also I hate seeing gonna, wanna written down - eugh!

DoylyCarte · 08/09/2021 03:01

In my ears the main way you can use “get” in this context ie ordering food without sounding it sounding very American would be to state “can you [please] get me a xyz” even though that would be erring towards rude (and not a phrase I’d use while ordering food/coffee).

“I’ll get” has an active quality that doesn’t imply that in actual fact it won’t be “I” getting anything but in fact “you” getting me something.

To me it jars in a similar vein of sloppiness as “I could care less”. 😱😱😱😱

BritWifeInUSA · 08/09/2021 03:07

@myusernamewastakenbyme

I overheard someone ordering coffee in a cafe the other day....'can i grab'....wtf...who in their right mind says that???
Pretty much everyone here. I had to scold myself for saying it without thinking the other day. I’ve been here too long…
Ragwort · 08/09/2021 03:38

irresist - I can hear my grandmother say exactly the same thing, I've remembered that all my life (60+ years Grin).

Allwillbefine · 08/09/2021 06:25

It really grates when I hear it. My ex used it all the time and I would seethe, silently. What’s wrong with “Please may I have” these days? Get sounds so rude and grabby.