| Author |
Message |
Masa
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 7:15 am
Post subject: may not/ cannot |
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About giving no permission, may not / cannot are available as I
learned in Basic English lesson.
Let me ask a question to further an understanding of their usages.
1) You may not use my car.
2) You cannot use my car.
When someone is said, "You cannot use my car," then he asks, "Why
not?"
Answer would be: It's now in repair. or My father is using it now.
If this is "You may not use my car," then he asks, "Why not?"
are those answers still valid? : It's now in repair. or My father
is using it now.
"may not" must assume a reason involing the one said so, in my
impression, like "because you're
a little drunk."
What do you think of it? |
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Mark Brader
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Jun 15, 2005 7:15 am
Post subject: Re: may not/ cannot |
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Masa writes:
| Quote: | About giving no permission, may not / cannot are available as I
learned in Basic English lesson.
|
Traditionally, "can" referred to ability and "may" to permission.
Today it is common to use "can" to include both ability and permission,
leaving "may" for possibility. You will not usually see the same
person using "can" for permission and also using "may" for permission.
| Quote: | When someone is said, "You cannot use my car," then he asks, "Why
not?"
Answer would be: It's now in repair. or My father is using it now.
|
That is about ability, so "cannot" is correct.
| Quote: | If this is "You may not use my car," then he asks, "Why not?"
are those answers still valid? : It's now in repair. or My father
is using it now.
|
No, because that is about ability. The original statement would have
to be "you cannot use my car."
| Quote: | "may not" must assume a reason involing the one said so, in my
impression, like "because you're a little drunk."
|
That is about permission. Many people would use "cannot" here also,
but "may not" is traditional.
| Quote: | What do you think of it?
|
I think "can" for permission is widely enough accepted that it should
be considered standard.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "He is even more important than my cat,
msb@vex.net | which is saying something." --Flash Wilson
My text in this article is in the public domain. |
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Robert Bannister
Guest
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| Posted: Thu Jun 16, 2005 7:05 am
Post subject: Re: may not/ cannot |
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Masa wrote:
| Quote: | About giving no permission, may not / cannot are available as I
learned in Basic English lesson.
Let me ask a question to further an understanding of their usages.
1) You may not use my car.
2) You cannot use my car.
When someone is said, "You cannot use my car," then he asks, "Why
not?"
Answer would be: It's now in repair. or My father is using it now.
If this is "You may not use my car," then he asks, "Why not?"
are those answers still valid? : It's now in repair. or My father
is using it now.
"may not" must assume a reason involing the one said so, in my
impression, like "because you're
a little drunk."
What do you think of it?
I think "You may not use my car" could equally well mean "It is possible |
that you won't use my car", so I consider the whole distinction a bit
pointless.
--
Rob Bannister |
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Skitt
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2005 2:03 am
Post subject: Re: may not/ cannot |
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Robert Bannister wrote:
| Quote: | Masa wrote:
About giving no permission, may not / cannot are available as I
learned in Basic English lesson.
Let me ask a question to further an understanding of their usages.
1) You may not use my car.
2) You cannot use my car.
When someone is said, "You cannot use my car," then he asks, "Why
not?"
Answer would be: It's now in repair. or My father is using it now. If
this is "You may not use my car," then he asks, "Why not?"
are those answers still valid? : It's now in repair. or My father
is using it now. "may not" must assume a reason involing the one said so,
in my
impression, like "because you're
a little drunk." What do you think of it?
I think "You may not use my car" could equally well mean "It is
possible that you won't use my car", so I consider the whole
distinction a bit pointless.
|
Well, that should be "It is possible the you *might* not use my car", innit?
Pedantically speaking, of course.
--
Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/ |
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Robert Bannister
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2005 7:10 am
Post subject: Re: may not/ cannot |
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Skitt wrote:
| Quote: | Robert Bannister wrote:
Masa wrote:
About giving no permission, may not / cannot are available as I
learned in Basic English lesson.
Let me ask a question to further an understanding of their usages.
1) You may not use my car.
2) You cannot use my car.
When someone is said, "You cannot use my car," then he asks, "Why
not?"
Answer would be: It's now in repair. or My father is using it now.
If this is "You may not use my car," then he asks, "Why not?"
are those answers still valid? : It's now in repair. or My father
is using it now. "may not" must assume a reason involing the one said
so, in my
impression, like "because you're
a little drunk." What do you think of it?
I think "You may not use my car" could equally well mean "It is
possible that you won't use my car", so I consider the whole
distinction a bit pointless.
Well, that should be "It is possible the you *might* not use my car",
innit? Pedantically speaking, of course.
|
That seems vaguely tautological to me, since "it is possible" already
covers the meaning of "might". Of course, in some circles might is
always right.
--
Rob Bannister |
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Skitt
Guest
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| Posted: Fri Jun 17, 2005 7:11 am
Post subject: Re: may not/ cannot |
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Robert Bannister wrote:
| Quote: | Skitt wrote:
Robert Bannister wrote:
Masa wrote:
About giving no permission, may not / cannot are available as I
learned in Basic English lesson.
Let me ask a question to further an understanding of their usages.
1) You may not use my car.
2) You cannot use my car.
When someone is said, "You cannot use my car," then he asks, "Why
not?"
Answer would be: It's now in repair. or My father is using it
now. If this is "You may not use my car," then he asks, "Why not?"
are those answers still valid? : It's now in repair. or My
father is using it now. "may not" must assume a reason involing
the one said so, in my
impression, like "because you're
a little drunk." What do you think of it?
I think "You may not use my car" could equally well mean "It is
possible that you won't use my car", so I consider the whole
distinction a bit pointless.
Well, that should be "It is possible the you *might* not use my car",
innit? Pedantically speaking, of course.
That seems vaguely tautological to me, since "it is possible" already
covers the meaning of "might". Of course, in some circles might is
always right.
|
Hmm, have you considered that it is also possible that you might use my car?
The possibilities are there both ways.
--
Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/ |
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Robert Bannister
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jun 18, 2005 7:13 am
Post subject: Re: may not/ cannot |
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Skitt wrote:
| Quote: | Robert Bannister wrote:
Skitt wrote:
Robert Bannister wrote:
Masa wrote:
About giving no permission, may not / cannot are available as I
learned in Basic English lesson.
Let me ask a question to further an understanding of their usages.
1) You may not use my car.
2) You cannot use my car.
When someone is said, "You cannot use my car," then he asks, "Why
not?"
Answer would be: It's now in repair. or My father is using it
now. If this is "You may not use my car," then he asks, "Why not?"
are those answers still valid? : It's now in repair. or My
father is using it now. "may not" must assume a reason involing
the one said so, in my
impression, like "because you're
a little drunk." What do you think of it?
I think "You may not use my car" could equally well mean "It is
possible that you won't use my car", so I consider the whole
distinction a bit pointless.
Well, that should be "It is possible the you *might* not use my car",
innit? Pedantically speaking, of course.
That seems vaguely tautological to me, since "it is possible" already
covers the meaning of "might". Of course, in some circles might is
always right.
Hmm, have you considered that it is also possible that you might use my
car? The possibilities are there both ways.
|
I may use your car or I may not. It depends on how easy it is to break
into and whether it's near the bank I'm about to rob.
--
Rob Bannister |
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