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Resoli Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
CAN or MAY for general possibility?
Hi all
According to some grammars, can is rather used to express situations and events that are possible theoretically o for rgeneral possibility (i..e.: some gases can freeze under certain conditions) but not about the chances that something will actually happen or is actually true at the moment, where we'd use may, might or could.
These grammars usually say that may is used to express occurences, things that happen in certain situations, and is especially used in scientific contexts as:
-- Women may suffer from depression after the birth
-- These flowers may have five os six petals, depending on the species
My question is: given these two definitions of usage, which seem quite similar to me. Could we use either can or may in any of the sentences I've used as examples before (gases, women, flowers)?
Thanks in advance
According to some grammars, can is rather used to express situations and events that are possible theoretically o for rgeneral possibility (i..e.: some gases can freeze under certain conditions) but not about the chances that something will actually happen or is actually true at the moment, where we'd use may, might or could.
These grammars usually say that may is used to express occurences, things that happen in certain situations, and is especially used in scientific contexts as:
-- Women may suffer from depression after the birth
-- These flowers may have five os six petals, depending on the species
My question is: given these two definitions of usage, which seem quite similar to me. Could we use either can or may in any of the sentences I've used as examples before (gases, women, flowers)?
Thanks in advance
Top answer
I think we'd better wait for a native speaker here but in the meantime I'll put in my 2 cents. I'd say yes. I would use both can/may in all of these three sentences.
- I think we'd better wait for a native speaker here but in the meantime I'll put in my 2 cents.
- I'd say yes.
- I would use both can/may in all of these three sentences.
- The only difference I can see between can and may in such examples is that may sounds more formal or academic.
- Michal
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1 Answers
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I think we'd better wait for a native speaker here but in the meantime I'll put in my 2 cents.
I'd say yes. I would use both can/may in all of these three sentences. The only difference I can see between can and may in such examples is that may sounds more formal or academic.
Michal
I'd say yes. I would use both can/may in all of these three sentences. The only difference I can see between can and may in such examples is that may sounds more formal or academic.
Michal
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