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Dyona Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

"can or may"

Hello, teachers

I'd like someone to give me advice about the following question.

Question: Put the most appropriate alternative into the blank in the sentence.

Alice isn't in the office; she ( ) coffee in the cafe.
1. can be having
2. can have
3. might be having
4. might have

I know the answer (#3), but I'm not sure why, especially why you cannot choose #2.

I'd appreciate it if you could help me.

Thank you.
  

Top answer

dyona why you cannot choose #2 She can have coffee in the cafe is a correct sentence, but it doesn't relate to the idea that Alice isn't in the office. Here's how #2 might be used: — Alice would like some coffee, but the office coffee-maker is broken. — That's OK.

— CalifJim

  • dyona why you cannot choose #2 She can have coffee in the cafe is a correct sentence, but it doesn't relate to the idea that Alice isn't in the office.
  • Here's how #2 might be used: — Alice would like some coffee, but the office coffee-maker is broken.
  • — That's OK.
  • She can have coffee in the cafe across the street.
  • _____________________________ She might be having coffee in the cafe tries to explain why she isn't in the office.
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3 Answers
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dyonawhy you cannot choose #2
She can have coffee in the cafe is a correct sentence, but it doesn't relate to the idea that Alice isn't in the office.

Here's how #2 might be used:

— Alice would like some coffee, but the office coffee-maker is broken.
— That's OK. She can have coffee in the cafe across the street.
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Thanks you, CJ for specific examples.

Thanks to your examples, I understand the deference between #2 and #3, but still have one more question.
How about #1?

I suppose that if you use "may/might", you are talking about an event not only in the future, but at the present (and sometimes in the past in the form of "may/might have...), while this might not be the case with "can".
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dyona So, in the situation of this question about Alice, I think, "she can be having coffee in the cafe" does not make sense because the sentence is referring to the present location of Alice.
I don't think it's that complicated. Only 'may', 'might', and 'could', but not 'can', are used in the given situation.

Alice isn't in the office; she [may /
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