Comments on: Can vs. May

By: Jane

Jane — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:55:16 +0000

“Can you” would be correct because these questions imply the ability to fulfill the request, not permission to do so. Example: You can eat cake. (You have the ability to eat cake.) You may eat cake. (You have permission to eat cake.)

By: vickie

vickie — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 18:58:46 +0000

i have a colleague who, in emails, types, “may you (call this person, meet me at 3pm, etc.)” instead of, “can you”. it drives me crazy, because i know it’s not correct, but i don’t know how to tell her. could you give me the rule?
thanks!

By: H-man

H-man — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:26:53 +0000

Grammar lovers tend to love rules. Alas, grammar is often not nearly as cut-and-dried as these folks would like. Merriam addresses far more than the stark permission / ability dichotomy. In many contexts “can” and “may” are interchangable. “May” certainly may (sic) be used to denote possibility. Hence, the procedure “You may click the third link to open the PDF” is fine, despite all those that scream can! can! until the woman with the ruffled dress starts dancing with a high kick.

By: Jane

Jane — Sat, 29 Mar 2008 15:53:50 +0000

I’m sure that a simple “yes” is enough for them to go running out the door. However, I won’t sidestep your question. To help them understand the distinction between “can” and “may,” you may wish to say, “Yes, you may.”

By: Michelle Dermanelian

Michelle Dermanelian — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 18:26:08 +0000

When my children ask, “May I go outside?” Do I response “Yes, you can.”?

By: Jane

Jane — Fri, 30 Mar 2007 21:15:11 +0000

It’s true that spoken language is often different from written language. Your examples with “can” and “may” are good ones.

By: J

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 18:28:44 +0000

http://www.bartleby.com/61/76/C0057600.html

Generations of grammarians and teachers have insisted that can should be used only to express the capacity to do something, and that may must be used to express permission. But children do not use can to ask permission out of a desire to be stubbornly perverse. They have learned it as an idiomatic expression from adults: After you clean your room, you can go outside and play. As part of the spoken language, this use of can is perfectly acceptable. This is especially true for negative questions, such as Can’t I have the car tonight? probably because using mayn’t instead of can’t sounds unnatural.

By: ravi bedi

ravi bedi — Thu, 29 Mar 2007 06:42:10 +0000

Thank you Jane. It’s crystal clear to me now.

By: Jane

Jane — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 14:03:22 +0000

“May I speak to…” and “May I speak with…” are both correct. “Can” is used for ability while “may” is used for permission, which fits with your example.

By: ravi bedi

ravi bedi — Mon, 26 Mar 2007 03:02:06 +0000

Now which one is more appropriate:

1. “May I speak to ….”
2. “May I speak with…”
3. “Can I speak to…”
4. “Can I speak with…”
5. “Could I speak with/to…”