stewamax wrote:'can I get
I agree, but the politer alternatives are also ambiguous.
The pedantic response to "Please may I have..." would be "Yes - you have my permission...".
And the response to "I want ...." would be "Indeed - thank you for letting me know"
Even forms with a transitive verb such as "I would like to buy..." or (the awkward) "I would like you to sell me ..." have a similar snag.
The blunt "Sell me this XYZ please" is correct - it is a request rather than an expression of feeling - but is not the very "Could I possibly trouble you to sell me this XYZ if is isn't too inconvenient" British way. We are just too wretchedly polite!
Legally a shop displaying goods or advertising them is considered 'an invitation to treat'.
In a situation where you are being offered a number of items it seems reasonable to specify which of them you would like to buy.
By saying ' Please may I have,' 'I would like,'' I want,' 'I would like to buy ' and 'I want' you are simply offering to make a contract and specifying which items are to be included.
(In view of the nature of the thread I apologise in advance if my grammar, spelling, punctuation, reasoning or general demeanour irritate any reader who may now or at any time in the future cast their eyes over this post)