‘can’ or ‘may’
can and may
In a statement, we use can or may in this way:
Subject + can/may + base form of main verb/the verb ‘to be’
Example:
You can/may go out.
Susie can/may be successful.
In a question, we use can or may at the beginning in this way
can/may + Subject + base form of main verb/the verb ‘to be’
Example:
Can Joe stay?
Can/May I be your friend?
Remember!
Modal or auxiliary verb:
Can, may, must, shall, will, ought
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Can and may are to ask permission or give permission.
May is usually more polite than can
Example:
Can/May I use your calculator, please?
You can/may watch the television after dinner.
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Can and may are also used to express the possibility of an action or event.
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May is usually used to refer to a less likely possibility than can.
Example:
We can have the meeting at 3 p. m.
(definite possibility)
We may have the meeting at 3 p. m.
(slight possibility)
May is also used to suggest that the speaker or writer is not very certain about something.
Example: Your answer may be right.
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Can is used to refer to the ability to do something.
Example: She can swim well.
Can you do cartwheels?
May be and maybe.
May be is a verb.
Maybe is an adverb meaning “perhaps”.
It can also be the answer we give when we don’t want to say either yes or no.
Example:
She maybe late. (wrong)
She may be late. (right)
Maybe she will be late. (right)
Will you be going to the prom? Maybe. (right)
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