Can you use "Might I ask...?" to ask a question? — bryan, South Africa
Answer
Might I... is used to ask permission or to make a suggestion in a very formal and polite way.
MightI see your credit card, please?
Might I recommend the grilled swordfish?
MightI remind you that this is a library? (an extremely formal and critical way of asking someone to be quiet)
Might I ask... is used to ask permission to ask a question, so it is very polite indeed:
Might I ask how you heard about our company?
There are two other verbs that can be used for the same function as might, but without conveying such extreme formality: may and can. May I is similar to might I and is used in many of the same contexts, but it is less formal. It is also much more common than might I.
May I see your driver’s license?
May I help you?
May I offer you something to drink?
Can I is the least formal of the three, as shown in these examples:
Might I call you by your first name? (very formal)
