0
Maj Posted 22 years ago
Grammar

Happy

What is the difference in meaning between the following sentences:

- Does she make you happy?
- Can she make you happy?
  

Top answer

"Can" always implies "capability" and sometimes "posibility". If I hear the first sentence, I will figure out that someone's talking about somebody else's acquaintance/relative/couple/wife/date (whatever you want to call her) and wants to know if she already makes him (or her, let's face it) happy. If what she habitually does is right enough for you to be happy.

— Raul

  • "Can" always implies "capability" and sometimes "posibility".
  • If I hear the first sentence, I will figure out that someone's talking about somebody else's acquaintance/relative/couple/wife/date (whatever you want to call her) and wants to know if she already makes him (or her, let's face it) happy.
  • If what she habitually does is right enough for you to be happy.
  • In the second sentence, someone wants to know if she is capable of making him (or her) happy.
  • Maybe she doesn't make someone happy, but she could if she tried hard.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

1 Answers
0
"Can" always implies "capability" and sometimes "posibility". If I hear the first sentence, I will figure out that someone's talking about somebody else's acquaintance/relative/couple/wife/date (whatever you want to call her) and wants to know if she already makes him (or her, let's face it) happy. If what she habitually does is right enough for you to be happy.

In the second sentence
0

Related Questions