Joern Matthias
Junior Member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2008
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- German
- Home Country
- Germany
- Current Location
- Germany
Hello folks,
I have a question about Lisa Stanfields's use of 'can' in her song 'Being around the world'. There is one sentence that confuses me:' I don't know where he can be.' What is the function of 'can' here? Should it not read 'I don't know where he may be.'?
Here is the link to her lyrics of her song: https://youtu.be/O1p7b5sWIjk
Let's assume that I am looking for my glasses and that I cannot find them at the moment of speaking and I am asking my mother ' Do you know where my glasses are?' and she gives an answer, would it be correct for her to say' I do not know where they can be.' or 'I do not know where they may be.' I know that in this case it is not about possibility in general or theoretical possibility in which 'can' can be used. If 'can' is possible here, why?
I also know that in direct questions we can use 'can'. Let's assume someone was ringing the door bell right now, I would ask ' Can this be the postman?', but what if I ask someone with me in an indirect way like ' Do you know if it can be the postman?' Would 'can' still be possible? What would be correct for me to say in this situation ' Do you think it can be the postman?' or 'Do you think it may be the postman?'
I am looking forward to your thoughts.
Greetings,
Joern
I have a question about Lisa Stanfields's use of 'can' in her song 'Being around the world'. There is one sentence that confuses me:' I don't know where he can be.' What is the function of 'can' here? Should it not read 'I don't know where he may be.'?
Here is the link to her lyrics of her song: https://youtu.be/O1p7b5sWIjk
Let's assume that I am looking for my glasses and that I cannot find them at the moment of speaking and I am asking my mother ' Do you know where my glasses are?' and she gives an answer, would it be correct for her to say' I do not know where they can be.' or 'I do not know where they may be.' I know that in this case it is not about possibility in general or theoretical possibility in which 'can' can be used. If 'can' is possible here, why?
I also know that in direct questions we can use 'can'. Let's assume someone was ringing the door bell right now, I would ask ' Can this be the postman?', but what if I ask someone with me in an indirect way like ' Do you know if it can be the postman?' Would 'can' still be possible? What would be correct for me to say in this situation ' Do you think it can be the postman?' or 'Do you think it may be the postman?'
I am looking forward to your thoughts.
Greetings,
Joern
Last edited: