The word 'may' may not be used in that spot. If you're asking for help, you use 'could' or 'would'. The former is a form of
to be able to (
poder); the latter, the conditional tense.
These are basically equivalent
pleas for help:
Could someone help me?
Would someone help me?
If you're
offering help:
May I help you?
Could I help you?
But not:
Would I help you?
I wouldn't think that being green (being new at something) is entirely American. Perhaps your teacher just didn't understand. There are other sayings that use the word green, too. More so lately, in America you're green if you're depending less on fossil fuels. (Es ecologista.)
