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OrtonR Posted 11 years ago
Grammar

can vs may

I find in books that both may and can express possibility.
So what is the difference between these two ?

For ex- The road can be blocked due to procession.
The road may be blocked due to procession.

Thanks !
  

Top answer

ortonR both may and can express possibility. Sort of, but in different ways that can become quite complex. You really need a textbook when it comes to all the subtle shadings found in the modal verbs.

— CalifJim

  • ortonR both may and can express possibility.
  • Sort of, but in different ways that can become quite complex.
  • You really need a textbook when it comes to all the subtle shadings found in the modal verbs.
  • ortonR The road can be blocked ...
  • This says that someone, most likely a group of city workers, has the ability (the machines and/or the personnel) or the authority to block the road.
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24 Answers
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ortonRboth may and can express possibility.
Sort of, but in different ways that can become quite complex. You really need a textbook when it comes to all the subtle shadings found in the modal verbs.
ortonRThe road can be blocked ...
This says that someone, most likely a group of city workers, has the ability (the machines
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Thanks for your reply.

Does can express higher possibility than may ?
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ortonRDoes can express higher possibility than may ?
No. It expresses a different kind of possibility, like physical ability for example.

CJ
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http://www.differencebetween.com/difference-between-can-and-vs-may/In the link given above, I read that can express higher possibility compared to may. How correct is the information given in the link.Thanks !
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ortonRthe link
I find the explanation at that link rather bizarre. It's over-simplified for beginners.

The central meanings are as follows:

'can' means being able to do something.
'may' means maybe doing something.

That's two kinds of possibility, not two levels of possibility.

If you think t
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CalifJimI find the explanation at that link rather bizarre.
Bizarre is spot on for a site that begins:
Understanding the difference between can and may is important as can and may are two words in the English language that are often confused as one and the same as far as their connotations are concerned. It is not the case. Actually there is a gr
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fivejedjonActually there is a great difference between the two words, namely, can and may.
Can you please help me clarify this? The great difference between 'can' and 'may' is that 'can' means 'can', and 'may' means 'may'. Did I get that right?

CJ
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Yes you are right that can and may are not only used for possibility but also used in other cases i.e; ability, permission.

What I'm asking is in the case of possibility, Can 'may' and 'can' be interchanged ?

For example - It can be very cold in winter/ It may be very cold in winter
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ortonRCan 'may' and 'can' be interchanged?
Not often. Almost never, really.
ortonR1 It can be very cold in winter. / 2 It may be very cold in winter.
1 suggests 'in any winter'. "Winters are (always) likely to be cold
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