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Can and May

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Mollygo Tue 11-May-21 10:17:25

Am I the only one who remembers this?
Today on the news it was announced that in six days we can hug our family.
Actually, no I can’t because they live too far away, some abroad with Covid restrictions in place.
We were taught they meant different things.
We can = we are able to . . .
We may= we are allowed to. . .
It was a regular ‘joke’ at meal times until we remembered.
“Please can I leave the table?”
“Well you can leave it, because you can’t take it with you, but you may not leave it until everyone has finished.”

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grandtanteJE65 Sun 12-Dec-21 12:44:01

MollyAA12

Oh dear if I said 'May I have a loaf pleae?' I would be thought of as rather old fashioned.

And wg´hy should sounding old-fashioned stop us from sounding politey?

We are old, after all, or getting on that way.

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Wheniwasyourage Sun 12-Dec-21 15:04:35

I understand that the difference between "may" and "might" also involves tense. It always annoys me to see things like "If the river bank had not been so steep, the girl may have been saved". IMO it should be "might have been saved", as she has drowned, and there is no way that she will be saved now. It seems to me to give false hope to her family that she may be alive, as "may" is in the present tense and "might" is in the past tense, just like the poor girl!

I'm not sure that I am putting this clearly enough (particularly for Pedants' corner) but does this make any sense?

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