Can vs May
I think you should hear your parents' opinions as they have more experience, and can pick a good class.
vs
I think you should hear your parents' opinions as they have more experience, and may pick a good class.
I think you should hear your parents' opinions as they have more experience, and can help you pick a good class.
vs
I think you should hear your parents' opinions as they have more experience, and may help you pick a good class.
Is "may" interchangable with "can" in any of these cases? If so, why? If not, why not?
Does "can" in the first one indicate possibility, and "can" in the second convey "guarantee", or does both indicate possibility?
Top answer
I think you should hear your parents' opinions as they have more experience, and can pick a good class. I think you should hear your parents' opinions as they have more experience, and may pick a good class. "can" (~ "are / will be able to") is more confident/definite than "may" and better suits the first part of the sentence.
- I think you should hear your parents' opinions as they have more experience, and can pick a good class.
- I think you should hear your parents' opinions as they have more experience, and may pick a good class.
- "can" (~ "are / will be able to") is more confident/definite than "may" and better suits the first part of the sentence.
- In this context, "may" sounds unexpectedly uncertain.
- I think you should hear your parents' opinions as they have more experience, and can help you pick a good class.
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I think you should hear your parents' opinions as they have more experience, and can pick a good class.
I think you should hear your parents' opinions as they have more experience, and may pick a good class.
"can" (~ "are / will be able to") is more confident/definite than "may" and better suits the first part of the sentence. In this context, "may" sou
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