Can vs. May
The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation
Can vs. May
Although, traditionally, can has meant “to be able” and may has meant “to be permitted” or to express possibility, both can and may are commonly used interchangeably (especially in spoken, informal language) in respect to permission. Even the Oxford English dictionary informs us that the permission use of can is not incorrect, but it’s better and more polite to use may in formal situations.
Example: He can hold his breath for 30 seconds.
Meaning: He is able to hold his breath for 30 seconds.
Example: He may hold his breath for 30 seconds.
Meaning #1: It is possible that he will hold his breath.
Meaning #2: He has permission to hold his breath. (This meaning is unlikely.)
Example: May/Can I go to the mall tonight?
Regardless of whether you choose can or may here, it is clear that permission is being requested.
In spoken English, a request for permission is generally answered with can, cannot, or can’t, rather than with may or may not, even if the question was formed using may. (Although mayn’t is a word, it looks and sounds strange even to native speakers.)
Example of Dialogue:
“May I go to the mall tonight?”
“No, you can’t/cannot go.” OR “Yes, you can go.”
Occasionally, you may hear someone say something like, “I cannot but argue when you say such silly things.” The expression cannot but argue is actually an old-fashioned way of saying “cannot help arguing.” You may also hear the expression can but, which means “can only.”
Example: We can but do our best to arrive on time.
Pop Quiz
1. Can/May you imagine a world without war?
2. Can/May I call you for a date?
3. She can/may run faster than anyone else on the team. (able to)
Pop Quiz Answers
1. Can you imagine a world without war?
2. Can OR May I call you for a date?
3. She can run faster than anyone else on the team.
If the article or the existing discussions do not address a thought or question you have on the subject, please use the "Comment" box at the bottom of this page.
I am very happy to see that you make a distinction between may and can. I teach ESL students at the elementary and college levels. I had talked to the “Grammar Lady” a few years ago. She said that the rule had been relaxed and you could use can for permission. I refused to accept that and continued to teach the difference between the two. I had two elementary school teachers who taught grammar with a passion. I loved learning about grammar and diagramming. I have found only two other people who feel the way I do about grammar. Thank you for the service you provide.
Is it wrong for a child to say to her mother “Can you get some money for me, please?” Thank you for your answer in advance.
Can you get some money for me, please? is grammatically acceptable coming from a child.
Would you get some money for me, please? is preferred for formal writing.
Now which one is the most 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…”
“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.
When my children ask, “May I go outside?” Do I response “Yes, you can.”?
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.”
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!
“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.)
Wow! I’ve always wondered about this; I’ve recently started to use “may” a lot more (at the appropriate time of course). But, “can” seems, to me, to be more used informally used to mean can/may and “may” used formally to mean can/may. But that’s just me.
It doesn’t help though that other people still use “can” anyway to mean can/may.
Whenever my baby sister gets the chance to come around to my house, I insist on her using “May I?” whenever she wants something, hehe.
Good AND correct expression seems to be a priceless skill that many still need to acquire.
Good job Jane!
Thanks for the compliment. You bring up a good point about “can” being used in place of “may” in informal writing. English is a living language; therefore, rules become outdated and vocabulary changes constantly. Thanks for writing.
I work in education. On our website’s main page is the question “How Can We Help?” Is this acceptable, or should the question read, “How May We Help?”
The word “can” implies ability; therefore, it is fine to say, “How can we help?” This means, “How are we best able to help?” This is probably closer to your intention than “may” because “may” implies permission to help, which presumably you already have.
There is a problem with determining use of can or may for editors: Sometimes you do not know the intent of the writer. Consider the following text from a training document from a course at a medical organization:
“The users (may/can) ask questions.”
In this case, it is unknown (and unknowable) whether the users have the ability or need to obtain permission to ask questions.
So, in this case both could be true. Obviously, everyone has the ability to ask questions, and trainees of a new process should always feel they have permission to ask questions in a seminar (to make sure those who have questions can get them answered).
In this case, wouldn’t either be correct?
As you mention, it is very likely that the trainees have the ability to ask questions, therefore, this is probably a statement that the users have permission to ask questions. Since both can and may are commonly used interchangeably in respect to permission, either would be correct.
What is correct, My said that I can go to the park or mother said I may go to the park?
Since you are suggesting that your mother is giving you permission, the correct usage would be “My mother said I may go to the park.”
“My mother said I may go to the park.” or “My mother said I might go to the park.” for reported speech
Since the word might can be used in auxiliary function to express permission, either one is acceptable.
Is this correct?
“May we request you to…..?”
Yes, since the word “may” implies permission, it would be correct.
And which is correct?
May we request you to please….?
We are requesting you to please…
We are requesting you to…
Thank you very much.
Although they are all grammatically correct, we prefer the politely written “May we request you to please…?”
is it ok to use May when you’re asking someone if they can do something?
example: “May you send me an email confirming our conversation?”
“Can you” or “would you” would be correct because this question implies the ability to fulfill the request, not permission to do so.
I love that you mention how English is a living language, and thus changes over time. We no longer use “gay” to mean happy. We use “mouse” to mean a squeaky animal or a part of your computer, and we determine which is which from context without throwing a fit. “Mean” originally meant “inferior/poor.” Then it developed into “stingy,” which is still the dominant meaning in British English, but I’ve never heard any strict American grammarians yelling at people to only use “cruel” instead of “mean.” Shakespeare’s “villains” were simply peasants or farmers. Things change, and I believe that many of these changes enrich the language, not destroy it.
my coworker asked, in regards to a task, “can we do it tomorrow?” I replied like pee wee herman, “i dont know. can we?” implying that he should have asked “may we do it tomorrow?” he then insisted that “may” cannot be used in a plural sense. i think he’s full of bull. anyone have an answer/opinion on this?
There is no rule saying that may cannot be used in a plural sense. As stated in our “Can vs. May” blog, “Although, traditionally, can has meant “to be able” and may has meant “to be permitted” or to express possibility, both can and may are commonly used interchangeably in respect to permission. Further, “In spoken English, a request for permission is generally answered with can, cannot, or can’t, rather than with may or may not, even if the question was formed using may.”
Is is grammatically acceptable to say, “I would like to have the extra juice” as opposed to saying “May I have the extra juice?” Thank you!
Either of the two sentences is grammatically acceptable, however, if you are concerned about etiquette, “May I please have the extra juice” is the polite way to phrase it.
Thank you so very much! You clarified a little difference of opinion that I had with a colleague of mine. He said it was not appropriate or correct to say and corrected one of my students. Etiquette and politness are what I work on with my students; however, I appreciate it when they are grammatically correct. Thanks again. DB
My employer insists that we use the phrase: “Can I help you find something?” I think that this is grammatically incorrect, and should be “May I help you find something?” What do you think? Am I just old fashioned?
Although, traditionally, can has meant “to be able” and may has meant “to be permitted” or to express possibility, both can and may are commonly used interchangeably in respect to permission, especially in spoken English. Regardless of whether you choose can or may here, it is clear that permission is being requested. We still recommend the use of may in a formal written context.
my daughter is teaching my grandson to ask for help with putting on his shoes. so he asks *may you help me put on my shoes?* , *may you help me with my coat?* etc….
is this correct? my daughter seems to think that asking *could, would , can or will you help me is rude.
Sounds like your daughter is trying to teach her son to be courteous. Since he is asking for help with something he cannot do on his own and not for permission, we suggest starting with the word please followed by can. The words could, would, or will are also acceptable. “Please can/could/would/will you help me put on my shoes/socks/coat?”
Is
“Can you hear me?” correct.
Or
“Do you hear me?” correct
Either one is grammatically correct.
I am a little confused by the “possibility” meaning that a phrase can (or may?) imply.
For example, in the original text about to be edited I have:
“Our software may be integrated with third-party applications.”
Which verb is to be used in this case?
Initially, I’m inclined to use “can” – “Our software can be integrated with third-party applications”.
But when I think twice, “may” sounds like a good option as well, because it is possible to integrate the applications with software.
Is it the Passive that confuses me?
Thanks!
Our blog “Can vs. May” says: “Although, traditionally, can has meant “to be able” and may has meant to be permitted or to express possibility, both can and may are commonly used interchangeably in respect to permission.” In this case, it’s not 100% clear whether the company intends to mean the software is able to be integrated or whether the company gives permission to integrate it. If the company intends both, can seems preferable since it is preferred for “ability” and can and may are interchangeable for permission.
I was asked to clarify may vs can to two ESL friends yesterday and responded with the same “ability vs permission” as found here. Thinking further, I have been unable to determine why we use “may” when “wishing” something: e.g. “May your journey be without incident.”
Can you please clarify this usage? It seems colloquial usage favors usage that of grammatically correct usage that “sounds” awkward in most cases.
The American Heritage Dictionary‘s entry for the word may includes “Used to express a desire or fervent wish: Long may he live!” Some may consider this usage odd-sounding but it is grammatically correct.
As wishing mean,what is correct, “may us” or “may we”?
Use the subject pronoun we.
I’m wondering if which is correct…
May I ask a favor please?
Can I ask a favor please?
Thanks
Although, traditionally, can has meant “to be able” and may has meant “to be permitted” or to express possibility, both can and may are commonly used interchangeably in respect to permission, especially in spoken English. Regardless of whether you choose can or may here, it is clear that permission is being requested. We still recommend the use of may in a formal context.
If we need more mashed potatoes, should question be “Can we have some more mashed potatoes” or “May we have some more mashed potatoes”.
Although, traditionally, can has meant “to be able” and may has meant “to be permitted” or to express possibility, both can and may are commonly used interchangeably in respect to permission, especially in spoken English. We prefer the politely phrased “May we please have some more mashed potatoes?”
As a service representative on answering the phone should I say “How may I help you?” or “How can I help you?”
The word “may” is used for permission and “can” is used for ability. Therefore, depending on your point of view, both are valid responses.
Can you tell me what may means in the following text.
Employees who have held acting promotion for a continuous period of 12 months or more, MAY, when they revert to their previous grade, be allowed to retain the pay of the higher grade on a mark-time basis. This is done on the understanding that employees are willing to accept further periods of acting promotion.
Thanks
The word may in your sentence is used to indicate possibility or probability.
Does the sentence “May you get me my backpack?” Grammatically correct? I think it would be but I’m just not sure
“Could you” or “will you” or “would you” would be correct, because if you think about it, this is not really a question. The speaker is making a request, not asking permission.
I think the real question is whether it’s grammatically correct to say, “May you…”.
It makes me cringe to hear that when my students ask me to open the restroom. I tell them we only use MAY when it involves ourselves. ex: May I or May we. That’s probably not correct, but it sounded like the best answer off the top of my head. Is there a rule about which verb to use in the second person?
When using the second person, the speaker is making a request, not asking permission. Therefore, can you, will you, or would you is preferred. The exception is when may is used to express a desire or wish such as “May you have a long and happy retirement.”
I had a client asking me to complete a form. She said “May you complete …” If I were asking someone, I would have said “Would you please complete …”. Am I correct or not?
You are correct. Please see our reply in this blog to Christopher of March 25, 2014.
As I perceive the problem, if ‘may’ and ‘might’ are treated as synonyms and ‘can’ and ‘may’ are treated similarly, we are left unable to distinguish as between the modes of ‘ability’, ‘permission’ and ‘possibility’.
I appreciate that, through some leverage that must have been political, we are now forced to make dictionaries ‘descriptive’ rather than ‘prescriptive’ (i.e. put meaning in the hands of the indiscriminate) but, on the above evidence, the price of that change is inordinately high.
Personally, I continue to use ‘can’, ‘may’ and ‘might’ as originally taught (in my generation). this is because, as the historic, Roman legionnaire is reported as saying, “I see considerable change but very little progress.”
God help those whose job involves writing contracts!
Some dictionaries (e.g., American Heritage) have always been more on the prescriptive side and some (e.g., Webster’s) more on the descriptive side. We are not aware of any recent changes in any dictionaries’ policies.
“Can I have your number?”
“May I have your number?”
Which is more appropriate?
Although both can and may are commonly used interchangeably in respect to permission, especially in spoken English, we prefer the politely phrased “May I have your number?”
can -> ability
may -> permission
In earlier days, those who were well-literate (I am saying literate, not educate), would frame sentences with the correct use of modal auxiliaries. Others did not know the denotation of these auxiliaries. Listening to them, wrong usage of these auxiliaries culminated.
When you are asking someone (spoken verbally):
Can I speak? is wrong (It is obvious that you are able to speak because you asked that question just a moment ago)
May I speak? is correct (needless to justify)
Whereas, when you pen down on paper, and write
Can I speak? is correct (Because no one knows if you are able to speak till the time you actually utter a word)
Which of these is correct?
“You can increase contributions by asking friends?”
or
“You may increase contributions by asking friends?”
The first indicates that an action that is made will yield a result. The second was suggested as more appropriate because I believe the individual uses “may” to signify that the yield is not guaranteed. I say the first is correct. Jane, which one is correct?
Can is preferred for ability, however, may and might are used to indicate possibility. Therefore, both sentences (omitting the question marks) are grammatically correct. It depends on whether you choose to imply certainty or possibility.
Does this sentence mean the employee must administer medication?
“An employee may be required by the Board to administer medication or medical procedures to a student during the course of the employees employment.”
The word may in your sentence is used to indicate possibility. Therefore, the sentence implies that it is possible that the employee will be required to administer medication.
Fill in the blank.
– I ___ go by car. [ can, may ]
Both answers are correct, however, they have different meanings.
I can go by car means that I am able to go by car.
I may go by car means that I might possibly go by car.
I think may should be used when requesting something for yourself. For example, may I go to the restroom. It seems incorrect to use may when requesting that others do something. For example, May you give me some lunch. It seems that can would be more appropriate in this example.
May I….
Can you….
Thoughts?
When requesting something for yourself, you are asking permission. Both can and may are commonly used interchangeably in respect to permission, especially in spoken English. We still recommend the use of may in a formal written context. When using the second person, the speaker is usually making a request, not asking permission. Therefore, can you, will you, or would you is preferred.
Can you please try now ?
May you please try now?
Which one is correct one.
When using the second person, the speaker is usually making a request, not asking permission. Therefore, use can.
Which one of these is correct?
1. May your happiness last forever? or
2. May your happiness lasts forever?
Please explain the reason for choosing 1 or 2?
Also, What if we use “this” instead of your? as in “May this happiness last/lasts forever?
Thanks.
Sentence 1 is correct with a period at the end of the sentence instead of a question mark. The sentence requires last whether the subject is singular or plural because the complete verb in this case is the verb phrase may last. The same is true whether you use this or your.
Is it correct to send a client an email that begins with ‘may you kindly’…confirm that you have received all information (for example). This does NOT sound right to me but i don’t know how to explain WHY.
When using the second person, the speaker is usually making a request, not asking permission. Therefore, can you, will you, or would you is preferred.
My work teammate has incorrectly used ‘may’ a few times and I’d like a tip on how to correct her without embarrassing her. Here is her latest example, asking a vendor to provide her an update: May you have an update regarding the outcome?
She is making a request, not asking permission. Therefore, will you or can you is preferred. There is no easy way to correct a coworker’s grammar.
I sent an email out to my two co-workers stating “may one of you please complete this task while I’m on PTO?” They keep stating to stop writing ‘May’. I just thought writing ‘May’ would be polite. Can someone please help me on this?
You are making a request, not asking permission. Therefore, will one of you or can one of you is preferred.
I am 63 years old. When I was in high school my family and I, moved to a small town. There, I had the most wonderful, little, old lady as an English teacher. She used examples to help us remember which way was proper to use words. Can is asking. May is answering. Can I go to the store. Yes, you may. There is a commercial on television where I live now, that uses, with cheerleaders from a school, “yes you may”, as a distinctive answer. If he only knew he was telling people they might, and not can, he would fall over in his tracks! She also told us many other helpful hints and examples that I remember to this day. Oh, for the teachers of olde, that cared so much and knew how to help us remember. The longer we live, the less of the English language we lose. Since computers, because of the “facts” someone in the beginning entered as correct, we now have had to change the known dictionary to what they entered, instead of what was correct! And don’t teachers know how to teach kids about double negatives! IT MAKES A POSITIVE! I never had the chance to go to college, but still remember my little old, sweet English teacher that gave me enough knowledge to have been employed my whole life in jobs in which I used the knowledge she pumped into me as a teenager! Thanks to all the old-time, patient, stick-to-em, teachers that put up with so much and are paid so little. Just remember, I had a teacher that cared and I will never forget her. Just the same as you, younger ones, you will have kids, like me, that will never forget YOU for whatever you are putting into the kids now. One Grateful Student
Which is correct?
You also may contact…
OR
You may also contact…
Either one is fine.
is it correct to ask someone “may I know you?”
It is not usual for speakers of English to ask may I know you? or can I know you? These questions are not ungrammatical, but it is highly unlikely that you will ever hear or read either one.
What do the sentence ‘May you have my logbook signed i pick it tomorrow’ mean, especially when written from a junior to a senior in a formal set up.
Sometimes i feel the sentence is comanding, sometimes i feel it should be ‘could you please sign my logbook i pick it tomorrow?’ please help.
The person asking the question is making a request, not asking permission. Therefore, could you or will you is preferred. Also, the sentence is a run-on sentence and should be written as two sentences. The word will is used to indicate future tense in the second sentence.
Could you please sign my logbook? I will pick it up tomorrow.
My colleague writes “May you help me…”
I’ve tried to explain that the word ‘may’ is about permission and that he’s asking whether I am permitted to help him, which is probably not what he intends to ask. I told him to use ‘would’ or ‘could’ instead of ‘may’. His response was that he would try to use the phrase ‘may you’ less often, which revealed he didn’t understand that it’s incorrect. He’s a native English speaker, so he should know better. The only thing I can think of to explain his thinking is that in school he might have asked his teacher, ‘Can I go to the bathroom?’ and the teacher gave him the usual ‘can vs. may’ lecture. But my colleague didn’t quite understand it and now substitutes ‘can’ with ‘may’ in all cases…
The worst part is that he communicates with clients.
May I have your mobile number . is it correct sentence
Your sentence is grammatically correct with a question mark at the end.
Which one is correct. the students may distribute only sweets on their birthday. Or the students can distribute ….birthday when writing a note and restricting to distribute any other thing other than sweets
We recommend using may to indicate that permission is being given to distribute only sweets.
My 9-year-old has taken to asking for assistance with the word “may.” As in, “May you please pass the vegetables?” Clearly there’s been some corrective discourse at school about can and may that has been taken too much to heart. But this use is not correct, right?
The person asking the question is making a request, not asking permission. Therefore, could you or will you is preferred. Perhaps your nine-year-old is confusing this with May I please have more vegetables?
I think back to ” Mother may I” as some times being the guiding light.
is it
you may pass the test because you studied hard or
you can pass the test because you studied hard
You may pass the test because you studied hard.
OR
You might pass the test because you studied hard.
OR
You can pass the test if you study hard.
Is it incorrect to request permission in this manner?
“May my submission be considered for late grading?”
Thank you in advance!
Your sentence is fine.
Is it possible to say ”Can i go out?”
Although, traditionally, can has meant “to be able” and may has meant “to be permitted” or to express possibility, both can and may are commonly used interchangeably in respect to permission, especially in spoken English. Regardless of whether you choose can or may here, it is clear that permission is being requested. We still recommend the use of may in a formal context.
Our goal is to help perpetuate properly written formal English. At the same time, we must concede the language’s fluidity and evolution, particularly as it applies to how it is spoken today. Our practice is to inform our readers as to what is currently considered acceptable and let them determine how to apply it in the right context. Subro’s question concerned spoken English; whether it was formal or informal was not specified.
We often speak of grammar and punctuation in terms of “rules.” The truth is, there are some hard-and-fast rules, but much of it consists of “guidelines.”
Please be reminded of your lacking requirements. You may submit those in our office from mondays to fridays.
OR
Please be reminded of your lacking requirements. You may submit it in our office from mondays to fridays.
OR
Please be reminded of your lacking requirements. You may submit them at our office from mondays to fridays.
First, we will focus only on the question you are asking. Since you are referring to the plural word “requirements,” either of the second sentences containing “those” or “them” would be consistent pronouns in referring to “requirements.”
We are guessing that you may be trying to communicate something in the nature of:
We are writing to remind you that your application (or paperwork) is incomplete. Please provide the remaining required information to our office Monday through Friday between _____ a.m. and ______ p.m.
Arranging a meeting, is it ok to ask:
May we know who’s with you tomorrow?
Thank you.
More grammatically, we recommend May we know who will be with you tomorrow?
Some may feel a more courteous request to be May we ask who will be with you tomorrow?
Please tell me which one is correct.
May/Can you speak any foreign language?
The following are grammatically correct because you are referring to ability:
Can you speak any foreign languages? OR
Can you speak a foreign language?
I was always taught “may” indicates a request, “can” indicates ability, which is why you wouldn’t say “can I?” unless, for example, you’re asking yourself or a doctor whether or not you are able physically/mentally/whatever to do a thing. You may decide you “can” (climb Mount Ranier) but you still might have to ask your parents permission (if you are 9 yrs old). Mother, may I? My parents might respond, “Yes, you can, but you may not.”
Can indicates ability to do something, not a request.
It’s subtle and may be out of date or old-fashioned but I’ll stick with the old way. For example if you’re posing a question “Can I do this?” vs “May I do this?” it’s ability vs ability/eligibility.
We agree with using can for ability and may for permission in formal situations, which are up to you to decide—with teachers, parents, work colleagues, etc. Simply be aware that English has many situations where what we’ve learned as rules could more accurately be called guidelines.
When I was a kid and asked my father, “Can I go out to play?” he would answer, “You may if you can.”
When someone asks you for a contact can we give the number and add that ”you may contact this person..”?
If you have the authority to grant permission, writing “You may contact this person …” is grammatically correct.
“May you disconnect your Bluetooth?”
Or
“Can you disconnect your Bluetooth?”
Without having more information, we are not sure if the speaker is questioning someone’s ability or making a request. When using the second person, the speaker is usually not asking permission.
“Can you disconnect your Bluetooth?” (asking if the person has the ability to disconnect the Bluetooth)
“Will you disconnect your Bluetooth?” (making a request)
“Would you disconnect your Bluetooth?” (making a request)
I work in a customer service department where most team members ask for needed information this way: “May you please provide your name and email address?” This just sounds off in my opinion; our callers do need to provide the information to receive service. They are asking permission. In fact, I don’t think either is required. We should just say, “Please provide your name and email address.”
Since the team members are making a request, not asking permission, your imperative sentence is grammatically correct. They could also ask the question, “Can you please provide your name and email address?”
I have a question about the proper usage of the word “may” when someone is assigning a task to someone else. I have a Team Leader at work who often uses the word “may” at the beginning of a sentence/question when asking a team member to do something. Here is a recent example: “May you please reach out to the above client for claim form work-up?”
This just doesn’t sound correct to me. I think a better sentence would be “Will (or Would) you please reach out to the above client for claim form work-up?”
The optimal version would be “Would you please reach out to the above client for claim form work-up?” The use of “may” in this construction would not be standard.
English is my second language, and all my life I have used “can I” because I find “may I” makes you sound lofty. Now lately a person at my work has made rude remarks about my use of “can I.” I work as a front-desk receptionist, and when people approach, I say, “Good morning; how can I help you?” He continues to belittle me and makes me feel very uncomfortable. Am I so wrong at using “can I” when I want to assist them?
Thank you.
We maintain that daily formal writing will aim to apply “can” to convey ability and “may” to imply permission.
As a front-desk receptionist, in proper formal English, you would likely more often use “how may I…,” as this is a polite address of another person in offering your willingness to assist. Because this is proper formal use, it may sound lofty to some even it is correct.
We also understand how colloquial applications can cross into formal usage. Few people will likely misinterpret what you mean when you say “can I” in place of “may I” to communicate the same intent. In other words, your use in speech can typically adapt to your comfort and preference, but if you want to be formal, precise, and polite, you will more often use “may I.”