Could someone please tell me what the difference between using the words 'can' or 'may' is, and how it should be used? As in:
One can attend
or
One may attend
One can obtain
or
One may obtain
I've never really known the difference, and I HAVE A NEED TO KNOW....hah, no really I do
2006-11-25 04:51:46 · 9 answers · asked by GiGi 4 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
"Can" simply means ability. Can you touch your toes? Are you ABLE to do it?
"May" has to do with permission to do something. May I go to the bathroom? (you don't ask about your ability to go, but you ask someone for permission to be excused to go) May also means possibility -- this medicine may impact you adversely. It's not certain, only a possibility. It's like saying "it MIGHT do that"... If I say it CAN impact you adversely, that implies its very likely.
This has nothing to do with being polite or not. It has to do with the explicit and implicit meanings of these words.
2006-11-25 05:11:01 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
can is used as something you are able to do. like you can physically go somewhere but you may not be allowed to. anything you are able to do or can do is a time when you would use can. but may is when something is stopping you like a person. so lets say your taking a test the question "can i use the bathroom?" would be answered "yes" since you physically are able to get up and go to the bathroom. but the question "may i use the bathroom?" would be a "no" since you are taking a test and your not allowed to go during the test. hopefully this helped. or made you more confused. either way
2006-11-25 05:17:33 · answer #2 · answered by some evil guy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
can is a tin container and may is the 5th month of the year the proper way of saying is, " one might be able to sort of attend."
2006-11-25 04:55:31 · answer #3 · answered by wheels 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
oh love think abt some thing else do not bother abt othersi.e i may love u
i may like u
2006-11-25 05:07:33 · answer #4 · answered by gogi64pk 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
'may' is used when u use the proper english. 'can' is used in everyday english
2006-11-25 04:56:50 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
.....give this a try: May I please have your phone number
Can I please have your phone number
The difference is in the question - "may" seems more polite while "can" is more generalized - other than that there is'nt any difference
2006-11-25 04:57:33 · answer #6 · answered by eddy r 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
may is more polite than can
like : may i have this cup of coffee?
or : can i have this cup of coffee, ho? gimme the coffee or i blow ur fat *** off
see the difference? yeah, there you go
2006-11-25 04:54:30 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I have no idea, tell me later1
2006-11-25 04:58:31 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
can means you are able to
may means you have permission to
2006-11-25 04:53:33 · answer #9 · answered by charleston chew 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋