Can and May compared

The use of can and may is parallel only in two meanings: possibility due to circumstances and permission. In these mean­ings, however, they are not always interchangeable for a number of various reasons.

1) Thus in the meaning of possibility due to circumstances the use of may is restricted only to affirmative sentences, whereas can is found in all kinds of sentences.

May He may find this book at the library.

Can He can find this book at the library. Can he find this book at the library? He cannot find this book at the library.

Their time reference is also different. May refers only to the present or future; the form might is used in past-time contexts only in reported speech. Can (could) may refer to the present, past or future.

May He may find this book at the library. I said that he might find the book at the library.

Can He can find this book at the library. He could find the book at the library yesterday. He can find the book at the library tomorrow.

Both could and might combined with the Perfect infinitive in­dicate that the action was not carried out in the past.

e.g. He might have found the book at the library. He could have found the book at the library.

It follows from the above that the sphere of application of can in this meaning is wider than that of may.

2) When may and can express permission the difference be­tween them is rather that of style than of meaning — may is more formal than can which is characteristic of colloquial English.

Cf. May (might) I speak to you for a moment, professor? Can (could) I have a cup of tea, Mother?

May in negative sentences expressing prohibition is uncommon.

*Translate into English using may.

1. Если ты не наденешь пальто, ты можешь за­болеть.

…………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………

2. Не уходи из дома: мама может скоро прийти, а у нее нет ключа.

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3. Будь осторожен: ты можешь упасть.

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4. Не трогай собаку: она может укусить тебя.

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5. Мы, может быть, поедем за город в воскресенье.

…………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………

6. Он может забыть об этом. …………………………………………………………………………………………

7. Ско­ро может пойти дождь. ……………………………………………………………………………………….

8. Можно мне войти? …………………………………………………………………………………………………

9. Можно, я пойду гулять? ………………………………………..…………………………………………………..

10. Если твоя работа готова, можешь идти домой.

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11. Учитель сказал, что мы можем идти домой.

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12. Доктор говорит, что я уже могу купаться.

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13. Папа сказал, что мы мо­жем идти в кино одни.

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14. Я думал, что мне мож­но смотреть телевизор.

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15. Здесь нечего делать. Мы можем уйти рано сегодня.

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16. Он, может быть, и знает эту проблему, поэтому он, может быть, и знает ответ на этот вопрос,

но я не очень уверена.

…………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………

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17. Если хотите, можете идти сейчас.

18. Где они сейчас живут? — Они, может быть, и живут сей­час за границей, но я не очень уверена.

…………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………

**Insert may or сап.

1. ……... I come in? 2. Let me look at your exercises. I ……….... be able to help you. 3. I ……….... not swim, because until this year the doctor did not allow me to be more than two minutes in the water. But this year he says I …………... stay in for fifteen minutes if I like, so I am go­ing to learn to swim. 4. Libraries are quite free, and any one who likes ..................... get books there. 5. I …………….. come and see you tomorrow if I have time. 6. Take your raincoat with you: it ……………... rain today. 7. Do you think you ………….... do that? 8. I ……………. finish the work tomorrow if no one bothers me any more. 9. …………... we come and see you next Sunday at three o'clock in the afternoon? 10. What time is it? — It .............................. be about six o'clock, but I am not sure. 11. Only a person who knows the language very well …………... answer such a question.

***Insert may (might) or can (could).

1. ……………... you help me? 2. I ………………. not imagine her speak­ing in public: I knew that she was so shy. 3. Something was wrong with the car: he ……………... not start it. 4. A fool …………….... ask more questions than a wise man ... answer. 5. She asked me if she …………..…..... use my telephone. 6. …………….. I use your pen? 7. ……….……... I find a pen on that ta­ble? 8. You ………………... read this book: you know the language well enough. 9. You ……………... take this book: I don't need it. 10. ………………... I help you? 11. …………………... I ask you to help me? 12. The school was silent: nothing ……………….... be heard in the long dark corridors. 13. Waiting ………………... be endless, you know. 14. ………………... you tell me the nearest way to the city museum? 15. They ……………….... think that I am too weak to take part in the excursion, but I am strong enough to do any kind of hard work, indeed. 16. He knew this period of history very well: he had read every­thing on the subject he ………………... find in the rich universi­ty library.

****Insert may or might using the proper form of the infinitive.

1. Don't scold her: the task …………………………... (to be) too diffi­cult for her, that's why she made rather many mis­takes. 2. If they don't miss the train, they ……………………….. (to arrive) in time. 3. Why isn't he here yet? What has happened? — Oh, he ………………….. (to miss) the train. 4. He ....................................... (to do) very hard work. That's why he looks so tired now. 5. …………………….... I (to ask) you to take off your hat? 6. She asked me if she ………………………. (to turn) on the light. 7. I am afraid it ……………………….. (not to stop) raining by the morning. 8. Don't throw the rest of the birthday cake. He …………………………. (to want) it for dessert. 9. It's raining cats and dogs. ................................................ I (to borrow) your umbrella, please? 10. Do you know where I left the car keys? — You ………………………………………… (to leave) them in the garage. 11. They don't know where the money has gone. It …………………………………….... (to steal).

*****Translate into English using may.

1. Может быть, это неправда. ……………………………………………………………………………………….

2. Может быть, он занят. ……………………………………………………………………………………………

3. Может быть, они знают. ………………………………………………………………………………………….

4. Может быть, он все еще за границей.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

5. Может быть, она опоз­дает. ………………………………………………………………………………………..

6. Может быть, он сдаст экзамен. ……………………………………………………………………………………

7. Может быть, мы поедем на Волгу………………………………………………………………………………….

8. Может быть, она придет завтра. ………………………………………………………………………………….

9. Может быть, я куплю эту книгу в Москве.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

10. Может быть, он уже сделал уроки. ……………………………………………………………………………..

11. Может быть, моя сестра уже поговорила с ними.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

12. Возможно, они уехали за границу. ………………………………………………………………………………

13. Мо­жет быть, бабушка спит. ……………………………………………………………………………………..

14. Может быть, дети играют у реки. ……………………………………………………………………………….

15. Возможно, они сейчас как раз обсуждают этот вопрос.

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16. Возможно, она при­шлет нам телеграмму.

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17. Возможно, они забудут принести газету.

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18. Возможно, мой брат забыл позвонить Вам.

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19. Возможно, она уже купила би­леты.

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20. Возможно, они как раз сейчас обедают.

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Key. *1. If you don't put on your coat, you may fall ill. 2. Don't leave home: mother may come soon, and she has no key. 3. Be careful: you may fall. 4. Don't touch the dog: it may bite you. 5. We may go to the country on Sunday. 6. He may forget about it. 7. It may start raining soon. 8. May I come in? 9. May I go for a walk? 10. If your work is ready, you may go home. 11. The teacher said that we might go home. 12. The doctor says that I may bathe already. 13. Father said that we might go to the cinema alone. 14.1 thought that I might watch TV. 15. There is nothing to do here. We may leave early today. 16. He might know the problem, so he might know the answer to this question, but I am not very sure (not quite sure). 17. You may leave now if you wish (want). 18. Where are they living? — They might be living abroad, but I am not so sure.

**1. may. 2. may.3. can, may. 5. can. 6. may. 7. may. 8. can. 9. may. 10. may (can). 11. may. 12. can.

***1. can. 2. could. 3. could. 4. can, can (may, may). 5. might. 6. may (can). 7. can. 8. can. 9. may. 10. can. 11. may. 12. could. 13. may. 14. can (could). 15. may. 16. could.

****1. may have been. 2. may arrive. 3. may have missed. 4. may have done. 5. may I ask. 6. might turn. 7. may not stop. 8. might want. 9. may I borrow. 10. might have left. 11. might have been stolen.

*****1. It may (might) not be true. 2. He may (might) be busy. 3. They may (might) know. 4. He may (might) still be abroad. 5. She may be late. 6. He may pass the exam. 7. We may go to the Volga. 8. She may come tomorrow. 9. I may buy this book in Moscow. 10. He may have already done his homework. 11. My sister may have already spoken to them. 12. They may have gone abroad. 13. Grandmother may be sleeping. 14. The children may be playing at the river. 15. They may be discussing the question at the moment. 16. She may send us a telegram. 17. They may forget to bring the newspaper. 18. My brother may have for­gotten to ring you up. 19. She may have bought the tickets. 20. They may be having dinner at the mo­ment.

Exercise 6. Match the following English sentences with their Russian equivalents.

1. May I listen to this record?	1. Возможно, им это не понравится.
2. You may listen to this record.	2. Они, возможно, испытывали установку.
3. You may not smoke here.	3. Можно мне послушать эту пластинку?
4. You may read about it in this book.	4. Вы могли бы испытать установку до начала эксперимента.
5. They may be playing football now.	5. Я, возможно, не закончу эту работу к концу недели.
6. She may be a good typist.	6. Вы можете послушать эту пластинку.
7. They may not like it.	7. Ты бы начал делать уроки вместо того, чтобы смотреть телевизор.
8. I may (might) finish this work by the end of the week.	8. Здесь курить нельзя.
9. I may (might) not finish this work by the end of the week.	9. Он, возможно, испытал установку.
10. He may have finished his work.	10. Я, возможно, испытал бы установку на прошлой неделе, но я был занят.
11. They may have been testing the installation.	11. Сегодня по телевизору нет ничего интересного. Мы, пожалуй, послушаем пластинки.
12. He may have tested the installation.	12. Вы можете прочитать об этом в этой книге.
13. They may (might) not have tested the installation.	13. Я, может быть, испытал бы эту установку сам, но я занят сейчас.
14. Maybe he was testing the installation.	14. Oна, возможно, хорошая машинистка.
15. Perhaps it was tested yesterday.	15. Они, возможно, не испытывали установку.
16. I might test this installation myself but I am busy now.	16. Oни, возможно, сейчас играют в футбол.
17. I might have tested the installation last week but I was busy.	17. Возможно, она была испытана вчера.
18. You might have tested the installation before starting the experiment.	18. Он, возможно, закончил paботу.
19. You might start doing your homework instead of watching TV.	19. Они, возможно, испытали установку.
20. There’s nothing interesting on TV tonight. We might as well listen to some records.	20. Я, возможно, закончу эту работу к концу недели.