[Grammar] May

[+Technist Warp-]

I am in a class. If a teacher says "You may wear free clothes tomorrow", would that mean that you have the choice to wear free clothes whether you want to or not or does it mean you must wear free clothes?

Thanks!

 

[MikeNewYork]

The word "may" suggests a possibility, not an obligation. Does "free clothes" mean no uniform?

 

[+Technist Warp-]

Yes.

What about 'can'?

 

[Barb_D]

"Can" does not mean you must.
"Must" means you are obligated.

I hope you understand from Mike's reply that "free clothes" is not a phrase we use.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Same. Another possibility. No obligation.

 

[+Technist Warp-]

"Can" does not mean you must.
"Must" means you are obligated.

I hope you understand from Mike's reply that "free clothes" is not a phrase we use.

So should I use 'casual clothes' or 'no uniform' next time I post something similar?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Yes, casual clothes would be better.

 

[Tdol]

Os something like You are free to wear what you want tomorrow.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Os? That is a bone. :-?

 

[Matthew Wai]

you must wear free clothes

If so, I think the teacher would use 'have to' instead of 'may'.

Not a teacher.

 

[emsr2d2]

If it's obligatory, the teacher should say "You must wear your own clothes tomorrow" or "You have to wear your own clothes tomorrow", or "You must not wear your uniform tomorrow". It sounds like an unlikely situation to me. When I was at school, "non-uniform day" (as we called it) was optional. If you wanted to wear your own clothes, you had to pay a small fee and the money raised was given to charity.

 

[Winwin2011]

Is it unnatural to say "We may wear casual wear tomorrow" instead of " ...wear casual clothes" ?

 

[emsr2d2]

I find it unnatural because of the repetition of the word "wear" with just one word between them. Also, "Casual wear" sounds like a sign in a clothes shop. It's not a term I would use in day-to-day speech. It has a very specific definition. It doesn't just mean "not wearing a uniform".

 

[+Technist Warp-]

Sorry for me saying but what's with the double posts with 14 minutes in between?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Sometimes the server screws up.

 

[+Technist Warp-]

With 14 minutes in between?

 

[MikeNewYork]

Yes.