In the sentences below, which one is correct and/or formal?
Will you accept this credit card?
or
Can you accept this credit card?
Add a comment
|
2 Answers
I think a correct one would be "Do you accept credit cards?". Can you lends itself to being a favor, and will you sounds a little aggressive.
-
1I'm not sure about the UK, but here in the US I think cards would typically be plural: "Do you accept credit cards?" Informally, take is often used in place of accept.– user230Mar 23, 2014 at 2:09
-
@snailplane here in the UK, I always hear "Do you accept/take credit cards?", never in singular. Does the singular use really sound British? :)– NicoMar 23, 2014 at 14:53
-
@Nico No, but I'm not familiar with every detail of BrE and the author's profile placed them in the UK, so I didn't want to assume. If you can confirm it's a simple typo, we can edit the answer to include the s :-)– user230Mar 23, 2014 at 14:57
-
2@Nico - I agree that it's usually in the plural, unless the question is about one particular card in particular. For example (this is me, holding my Discover card): "Would you take this credit card?"– J.R. ♦Mar 23, 2014 at 15:58
-
The two questions have different meanings.
Can you accept the credit card? is asking someone if they have the capability to accept the card.
Will you accept the credit card? is asking someone who has the capability if they are willing to accept the card.
Just because someone can accept a card does not mean that they will accept it.
answered Mar 22, 2014 at 15:57
-
2Most vendors that can accept a credit card will accept a credit card. :^) But you bring up a great point: Can you take my dog for a walk? and Will you take my dog for a walk? Those are less likely to have the same answer – unless I really enjoy being with your dog.– J.R. ♦Mar 23, 2014 at 16:00