Steven Mai
Member
- Joined
- Apr 2, 2012
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Chinese
- Home Country
- Vietnam
- Current Location
- Vietnam
First off, I hope it is not annoying to ask more than one question in a thread.
1. In my mother tongue, these two words are almost exchangeable, so the dictionary gives out the same result. And I had been only using "can" until a message popped out from my computer, it said: You may eject the device now.
I heard that "may" is used in giving permission context, and "can"is used in describing ability context. So is this sentence completely incorrect for using "can"? And I should use "may"?
Walkers can cross the road when the traffic light is green.
2. My teacher told me to use "to" when the sentence contains two verbs, but what if there are more than two verbs? Like "I decided to go to the food stand to buy something to eat?" I find it has too many "to", Is that correct?
Many thanks in advance.
1. In my mother tongue, these two words are almost exchangeable, so the dictionary gives out the same result. And I had been only using "can" until a message popped out from my computer, it said: You may eject the device now.
I heard that "may" is used in giving permission context, and "can"is used in describing ability context. So is this sentence completely incorrect for using "can"? And I should use "may"?
Walkers can cross the road when the traffic light is green.
2. My teacher told me to use "to" when the sentence contains two verbs, but what if there are more than two verbs? Like "I decided to go to the food stand to buy something to eat?" I find it has too many "to", Is that correct?
Many thanks in advance.