Re: can-may

"Can" means "to be able to"' or, more archaically, "to know how to." OE:
cunnan.  Ic can ridan, "I know how to ride," which developed into "I can
ride." "May" used to mean what "can" means now--OE: magan; but once "can"
took over, it was reduced to meaning "can perhaps" ("it may rain") or "can
with permission": "may I have some butter please?"  Hence the old schoolmarm
response when one uses "can" when one should use "may" in polite
circumstances:  Pupil or child at the dinner table: "Can I have some
butter?"  School marm or corrective mother: "I don't know.  Can you?"
Translation: you can reach for the butter physically, you can tie your
shoes, you can put on your clothes, but you MAY have some butter at dinner
if you ask for it politely.  "Yes, you may."


----- Original Message -----
From: "# 1" <salut_vous_autre@...>
To: <CONLANG@...>
Sent: Monday, December 27, 2004 12:12 AM
Subject: can-may


> when translated in frensh, "can" and "may" are both translated in
> "pouvoir"
>
> is there a way to clearly divide when to use each?
>
> I've been able to learn the uses of "ser" and "estar" in spanish class
> but
> none of my english teachers had explained it clearly between can and may.
>
> Is it because there is no way to divide when you have to use "can" and
> when "may" is needed and that the only way is to develop it instinctively?
Just about everything can be explained in a known language, so long as you
have a history of its development.  But most people learn a native language
instinctively.  That doesn't mean that they can't learn the grammatical
logic of their language.  Many foreigners to English know how and why things
work in English better than native English speakers do.  The same goes for
English speakers learning French.  Or German, or any other language learned
non-intuitively.

> Or is it because it is so much obvious that I'm the only one to don't
> see
> it?
No, it's because you are somewhat new to English.  If you take a History of
the English Language class eventually, it could help clear up a number of
questions.

> I would say that we use "may" when there is an idea of authorization but
> one
> can say "it may rain" so it's probably not exactly that.
See above.

> Maybe you don't know it clearly and that you only use it instinctively too
> because I don't know how to explain clearly the difference between
> "savoir"
> and "connaître" wich both means "to know" in english..
Eventually take a History of the French Language class, too.

Sally