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Davefromthefreeway Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

What is the difference between "may" and "can"?

0 Howdy, 02br
00Could anyone please tell the difference in definition of say, "may i go to the washroom vs. can i go to the washroom" and "may we apply calculus in chemistry vs. can we apply calculus in chemistry." Thanks in advance02br
00Cheers, Dave0-
  

Top answer

0 01blockquote 01cite 10Davefromthefreeway12cite 10Howdy, 12br 10Could anyone please tell the difference in definition of say, "may i go to the washroom vs. can i go to the washroom" and "may we apply calculus in chemistry vs. "02font 02b 0-

— Philip

  • 0 01blockquote 01cite 10Davefromthefreeway12cite 10Howdy, 12br 10Could anyone please tell the difference in definition of say, "may i go to the washroom vs.
  • can i go to the washroom" and "may we apply calculus in chemistry vs.
  • "02font 02b 0-
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12 Answers
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Davefromthefreeway12cite10Howdy, 12br
10Could anyone please tell the difference in definition of say, "may i go to the washroom vs. can i go to the washroom" and "may we apply calculus in chemistry vs. can we apply calculus in chemistry." Thanks in advance12br
10Cheers, Dave12br
12blockquote
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0 Most native speakers don't really make a distinction in that particular sentence, and that's why elementary school teachers pounce on it. Some people accept the "correction", others completely ignore it, and continue saying "can I" when they are asking permission. 0-
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0 >> "May" is also a polite way for a clerk to ask if he or she can help you: "May I help you?" 02<<
02br
00"Can I help you?" is also used, but is one notch lower on the polite-o-metre. 0-
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0 >> "may we apply calculus in chemistry 02<<
00Chemistry Teacher, do you grant us permission to use calculus for our Chemistry assignments?02br
02br
00vs. can we apply calculus in chemistry?" 02br
02br
00vs.02br
02br
00Can Calculus be applied to Chemistry?02br
00Is it possible or impossible to apply Calcul
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Marvin A.12cite10>> "May" is also a polite way for a clerk to ask if he or she can help you: "May I help you?" << "Can I help you?" is also used, but is one notch lower on the 10polite-o-metre10.12blockquote
11b01font00Wonderful word. Thanks! (But I'll use
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1b01font01b00 "Can I go to the bathroom?" so they can answer, "I don't know, can you?"00<02b00<01b00hahahahah! That is so funny. Thanks very much everybody, I finally understand this.05002br
02b02font02b010id2
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Can expresses ability and may expresses permission.

If you ask someone "Can I go to the bathroom" you are really asking: "Do I have the ability to go the bathroom?" In which case they could rightly reply: "I am not a doctor and do not know for sure" or "I don't know can you?"

So therefore you would say: "May" because you are requesting permission...this still does not guarantee
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AnonymousCan expresses ability and may expresses permission.
If you ask someone "Can I go to the bathroom" you are really asking: "Do I have the ability to go the bathroom?" In which case they could rightly reply: "I am not a doctor and do not know for sure" or "I don't know can you?"
So therefore you would say: "May" because you are requesting permission..
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AnonymousIf you ask someone "Can I go to the bathroom" you are really asking: "Do I have the ability to go the bathroom?"
This is certainly not true in the U.S. In American English can is used to ask permission in 99% of cases where a choice between "can I" and "may I" is possible. Only in the most formal situations is "may" substituted.

CJ
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cool......... thanx buddy. Emotion: shake hands
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