Sure, in English classes and text books they're different. In common usage in the USA, they're interchangeable. If you're not drinking a single malt, then you don't deserve scotch anyway. Who drinks scotch out of a can? Even the most redneck American drinks his Glenlivet or Ardbeg out of a glass, neat.Geoff Quickfall wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2017 9:46 pm1) Can is an ability to do something.
2) May is permission to do it.
They are not interchangeable as they have different meanings.
“Geoff can have a scotch.” (This sentence indicates that I have an ability to drink scotch: mouth, throat and etc.)
“ Geoff may not have a scotch.” (This sentence indicates that I do not have permission to have the can of scotch.)
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I learnt the following with respect to commas: x, y and z. English mother, Canadian father and Canadian school system.
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Can’t wait to have my book critiqued
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Tom L
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I dunno, I have my doubts as to how useful it is to insist, as a teacher, that a word does not have a certain meaning, while in actual common usage, it does have that meaning.keithdalby wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2017 9:51 pmI'm a teacher. When a student asks me if they can go to the toilet, my standard response is, 'I don't know, can you?'Geoff Quickfall wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2017 9:46 pm1) Can is an ability to do something.
2) May is permission to do it.
When they return from their exolutions, I tend to ask if they were successful and, when they affirm that they were, exclaim something like, 'glad we solved that little puzzle.'
I also ask if they've washed their hands.
You may not like that people use "can" in the sense of "have permission," but they do it anyway, which means what you're telling your students there is factually incorrect.
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(emphasis added by me)keithdalby wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2017 9:51 pmI'm a teacher. When a student asks me if they can go to the toilet, my standard response is, 'I don't know, can you?'
Any further proof required?
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I'm not really bothered*, but pedantry amuses me. My students are 14-18 years old, so colloquialisms are fairly deeply ingrained at this stage. They enjoy pedantry too, particularly correcting my mistakes. I believe that's to be encouraged.Thomas Okken wrote: ↑Mon Dec 25, 2017 10:04 pmYou may not like that people use "can" in the sense of "have permission," but they do it anyway, which means what you're telling your students there is factually incorrect.
Edited to add: *not bothered about can vs may.
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Yes, it was very entertaining. I'm surprised that no one used the phrase, Grammar N--i *Oops!* I mentioned it myself!
Tom L
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All this discussion of bathroom habits, grammar, politics and national characterizations is no doubt compelling (to someone, somewhere) but I feel the need to point out Geoff has commented in a signature line "Can’t wait to have my book critiqued". So I guess it must be imminent...
I can comfortably speak for at least several of us here, saying we are eager to help you in this respect, but we'll need one thing to do so...
I can comfortably speak for at least several of us here, saying we are eager to help you in this respect, but we'll need one thing to do so...
--bob p
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Good point! Geoff, how are you doing?rprosperi wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2017 2:50 am... Geoff has commented in a signature line "Can’t wait to have my book critiqued". So I guess it must be imminent...
I can comfortably speak for at least several of us here, saying we are eager to help you in this respect, but we'll need one thing to do so...
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I used ‘can’ as, and excuse me, a pun with reference to the scotch in a can yes, single malt, a dram of water, room temperature and no ice, all held in an Irish crystal scotch glass. The only way
So far I have seen can used in three different manners.
1). May / can
2). Can / toilet. Can I go to the can.
3). Can / container. As in scotch in a can which was an attempt at humour / humor, albeit, poorly used.
All in fun of course.
Book, yes it is getting closer to completion but you guys are a tough crowd!!!
So far I have seen can used in three different manners.
1). May / can
2). Can / toilet. Can I go to the can.
3). Can / container. As in scotch in a can which was an attempt at humour / humor, albeit, poorly used.
All in fun of course.
Book, yes it is getting closer to completion but you guys are a tough crowd!!!
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Thanks. But ... is it "getting closer to completion" like 1/x approaching zero?Geoff Quickfall wrote: ↑Tue Dec 26, 2017 6:56 amBook, yes it is getting closer to completion but you guys are a tough crowd!!!
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