20-Apr-2006, 20:15
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 | Moderator | | Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 4,141
Home Country: United States Native Language: English Current Location: United States Member Type: English Teacher | |
 Re: Modal verb May
Even native English speakers often misuse "may."
If you're asking to enter someone's house, the proper phrase would be "May I come in?" But many people say "Can I come in?" instead. The difference is "may" asks for the homeowner's permission. "Can I come in" is literally asking "do I have the physical ability to enter?"
Another meaning of "may" is to express an uncertainty, or a possibility: "He may be angry with me, I'm not sure."
Or the pilot of an airplane might say: "The weather looks cloudy over the Atlantic, we may run into some turbulance." |
Modal verb May 
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