Can vs May
Can and May are two words in the English language that are often confused as one and the same as far as their connotations are concerned. It is not the case. Actually there is great difference between the two words, namely, can and may.
The word ‘can’ is generally used in the sense of higher possibility as in the sentences
1. I believe he can do it.
2. He can win the race.
In both the sentences given above you would see that the word ‘can’ is used in the sense of greater possibility of the occurrence of an event or happening. In the first sentence what is suggested is that there is a higher possibility of the person doing some kind of act and in the second sentence what is suggested is that there is a greater possibility of an athlete winning the race.
On the other hand the word ‘may’ suggests a lower possibility of the occurrence of some event or happening. Observe the two sentences given below:
1. He may come to the office today.
2. I may call you in one hour.
In both the sentences given above, the word ‘may’ is used in the sense of ‘lower possibility’. In the first sentence you tend to understand that there is a lower possibility of the person coming to the office today whereas in the second sentence you tend to understand that there is a lower possibility of the person calling somebody in the next hour.
Sometimes the word ‘may’ is used in the sense of a request or permission as in the sentence ‘My I come in sir’. In this sentence you get the suggestion that the person is trying to get the permission to enter into a room or hall in a house. On the other hand the word ‘can’ is used in the beginning of a sentence to form a question as in the sentence ‘Can you do it?’ In this sentence the word ‘can’ makes you think whether the person has the ability to do it.
The word ‘can’ gives the meaning of ‘be able to’ as in the sentence ‘I can eat fast’. It also gives the meaning of ‘know how to’ as in the sentence ‘Can you speak French?’ It conveys the idea of ‘potential capable of’ as in the sentence ‘You can do it if you give it a try’. It rarely gives the sense of ‘permission’ too as in the sentence ‘Can we attend the class today?’
On the other hand the word ‘may’ expresses possibility as in the sentence ‘It may be true”. It may be used in the sense of ‘expressing a desire’ as in the sentence ‘May he live long enough to see his grandson’. Thus the usages of both the words ‘can’ and ‘may’ are to be carefully observed and befittingly used.
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