Can and May

It's August 8. I suddenly remembered one common colloquialism which is unacceptable in formal usage. You have probably heard it quite often before, but can applies to ability and may denotes permission. Thus we say, " Yes you can go, but no you may not." In other words, we mean, " Yes, you have the ability to go, but no you dont have my permission."

In informal usage, can and may are used interchangeably. [Can is generally used for both permission and ability. Can I go now? You can if you want to ....This is in such general usage that it should be regarded as good English in speaking and in informal writing. (Book of Usage and Abusage; Eric Partridge, 1954)] Thus I often hear this from friends, " Can I borrow your dictionary?", or "Can I have a ride back home today?" They are both grammatically wrong in formal usage. May should be substituted for Can.

May also implies uncertainty, possibility and wish in some usage: "We may buy a new washing machine when the company gives us a month's salary as bonus this year."

Could and might also add to the confusion. Could implies ability but with conditions attached: "We could get new computers for the office if we had the money". Could is also a polite way of asking a question: "Could you do this for me?" Might shows less probability that can, could or may. "The PC we ordered might get here next week." "Sure, they have been telling us that for three months, but it might never get here." (The New American Dictionary of Confusing words; Wiliam C Paxson, Penguin Books USA Inc., 1990).

Might is used after a governing verb in the past tense, may after such a verb in the present tense: "She says we may go." "She said that we might go." (Dictionary of Problem Words and Expression; Harry Shaw, Washington Square Press, 1975)