Comments on: Can vs. May http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/can-v-may/ The #1 Grammar & Punctuation Resource on the Internet! Tue, 01 Jan 2013 00:14:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/can-v-may/#comment-10200 Jane Mon, 30 Jan 2012 21:41:38 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=29#comment-10200 You are welcome. You are welcome.

]]> By: Deborah http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/can-v-may/#comment-10123 Deborah Mon, 30 Jan 2012 03:41:50 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=29#comment-10123 Thank you so very much! You clarified a little difference of opinion that I had with a colleague of mine. He said it was not appropriate or correct to say and corrected one of my students. Etiquette and politness are what I work on with my students; however, I appreciate it when they are grammatically correct. Thanks again. DB Thank you so very much! You clarified a little difference of opinion that I had with a colleague of mine. He said it was not appropriate or correct to say and corrected one of my students. Etiquette and politness are what I work on with my students; however, I appreciate it when they are grammatically correct. Thanks again. DB

]]> By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/can-v-may/#comment-10064 Jane Thu, 19 Jan 2012 22:30:31 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=29#comment-10064 Either of the two sentences is grammatically acceptable, however, if you are concerned about etiquette, "May I please have the extra juice" is the polite way to phrase it. Either of the two sentences is grammatically acceptable, however, if you are concerned about etiquette, “May I please have the extra juice” is the polite way to phrase it.

]]> By: Deborah http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/can-v-may/#comment-10007 Deborah Thu, 19 Jan 2012 01:56:49 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=29#comment-10007 Is is grammatically acceptable to say, "I would like to have the extra juice" as opposed to saying "May I have the extra juice?" Thank you! Is is grammatically acceptable to say, “I would like to have the extra juice” as opposed to saying “May I have the extra juice?” Thank you!

]]> By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/can-v-may/#comment-7863 Jane Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:17:44 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=29#comment-7863 There is no rule saying that <em>may</em> cannot be used in a plural sense. As stated in our "Can vs. May" blog, "Although, traditionally, <em>can</em> has meant “to be able” and may has meant “to be permitted” or to express possibility, both <em>can</em> and <em>may</em> are commonly used interchangeably in respect to permission. Further, "In spoken English, a request for permission is generally answered with <em>can</em>, <em>cannot</em>, or <em>can’t</em>, rather than with <em>may</em> or <em>may not</em>, even if the question was formed using <em>may</em>." There is no rule saying that may cannot be used in a plural sense. As stated in our “Can vs. May” blog, “Although, traditionally, can has meant “to be able” and may has meant “to be permitted” or to express possibility, both can and may are commonly used interchangeably in respect to permission. Further, “In spoken English, a request for permission is generally answered with can, cannot, or can’t, rather than with may or may not, even if the question was formed using may.”

]]> By: Robbie http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/can-v-may/#comment-7789 Robbie Tue, 18 Oct 2011 21:41:15 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=29#comment-7789 my coworker asked, in regards to a task, "can we do it tomorrow?" I replied like pee wee herman, "i dont know. can we?" implying that he should have asked "may we do it tomorrow?" he then insisted that "may" cannot be used in a plural sense. i think he's full of bull. anyone have an answer/opinion on this? my coworker asked, in regards to a task, “can we do it tomorrow?” I replied like pee wee herman, “i dont know. can we?” implying that he should have asked “may we do it tomorrow?” he then insisted that “may” cannot be used in a plural sense. i think he’s full of bull. anyone have an answer/opinion on this?

]]> By: Melinda Brasher http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/can-v-may/#comment-7677 Melinda Brasher Mon, 10 Oct 2011 20:08:54 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=29#comment-7677 Jane, I love that you mention how English is a living language, and thus changes over time. We no longer use "gay" to mean happy. We use "mouse" to mean a squeaky animal or a part of your computer, and we determine which is which from context without throwing a fit. "Mean" originally meant "inferior/poor." Then it developed into "stingy," which is still the dominant meaning in British English, but I've never heard any strict American grammarians yelling at people to only use "cruel" instead of "mean." Shakespeare's "villains" were simply peasants or farmers. Things change, and I believe that many of these changes enrich the language, not destroy it. Jane, I love that you mention how English is a living language, and thus changes over time. We no longer use “gay” to mean happy. We use “mouse” to mean a squeaky animal or a part of your computer, and we determine which is which from context without throwing a fit. “Mean” originally meant “inferior/poor.” Then it developed into “stingy,” which is still the dominant meaning in British English, but I’ve never heard any strict American grammarians yelling at people to only use “cruel” instead of “mean.” Shakespeare’s “villains” were simply peasants or farmers. Things change, and I believe that many of these changes enrich the language, not destroy it.

]]> By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/can-v-may/#comment-7713 Jane Thu, 29 Sep 2011 21:40:35 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=29#comment-7713 “Can you” or "would you" would be correct because this question implies the ability to fulfill the request, not permission to do so. “Can you” or “would you” would be correct because this question implies the ability to fulfill the request, not permission to do so.

]]> By: Joe http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/can-v-may/#comment-7561 Joe Wed, 28 Sep 2011 21:04:39 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=29#comment-7561 is it ok to use May when you're asking someone if they can do something? example: "May you send me an email confirming our conversation?" is it ok to use May when you’re asking someone if they can do something?

example: “May you send me an email confirming our conversation?”

]]> By: Jane http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/definitions/can-v-may/#comment-7318 Jane Fri, 02 Sep 2011 22:39:47 +0000 http://data.grammarbook.com/blog/?p=29#comment-7318 If you were sleeping through your English class and asking questions like that I would vote for detention! If you were sleeping through your English class and asking questions like that I would vote for detention!

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