Can/May?
In school I was taught that "may" is asked for permission, why "can" is used to ask if someone is able to do another thing. However, I did some research online, and on some dictionaries "can" can also be used to ask for permission or relate to if something is allowed or not.
ie. I can't go outside. My mother does not allow it.
In this case, from what I've been taught in school, this is technically incorrect as I'm actually able to go outside, but my mother is not allowing me to.
Thoughts?
Top answer
Thoughts? The use of "may" to ask permission is very formal. "can" or "could" or an equivalent paraphrase is used instead of "may" to ask permission in almost all social contexts in modern English.
- Thoughts?
- The use of "may" to ask permission is very formal.
- "can" or "could" or an equivalent paraphrase is used instead of "may" to ask permission in almost all social contexts in modern English.
- "may" is used in today's English mostly as a formal substitute for "might", which basically conveys the idea of "maybe", "perhaps".
- Consequently, in ordinary, everyday conversational English, "may" is seldom used anymore.
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Thoughts?
The use of "may" to ask permission is very formal. "can" or "could" or an equivalent paraphrase is used instead of "may" to ask permission in almost all social contexts in modern English.
"may" is used in today's English mostly as a formal substitute for "might", which basically conveys the idea of "maybe", "perhaps".
Consequentl
0The rule may be that can refers to ability, while may refers to permission, but in everyday use can is generally used for both in all but the most formal writing.
Having said that, this morning my three-year-old granddaughter said "Mommy, I want a drink!", and I told her she should say, "Mommy, may I have a drink please?" (which she did).
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