What is the difference between can i and may i

For a discussion between may vs. Up until this point, we have focused on the person asking the question and not the person answering. If someone asks you for permission, what is the proper way to respond? The answer is, of course, it depends. Depends on what, you ask? As with most writing and speaking, choosing whether to use can or may depends on your audience. Can and may are both modal verbs that express mood when used with main verbs.

However, whether they are interchangeable or not depends on whether the context requires classic usage or modern speech. Using can and may in a traditional context is simple, because they do have separate meanings. Where it gets tricky is when you want to ask for permission, such as in can I vs. May is the traditional choice for asking permission; however, the overlap in the meaning of can makes it another modern option.

The main difference between these sentences is their tone. May makes the first sentence sound more formal, while can brings the tone of the second sentence to a more casual level. They are both essentially asking the same thing. In each of these examples, context clues and common sense tell us that the speaker is not referring to their physical ability to perform the task. Modern usage has made either word acceptable for asking and granting permission, with may more appropriate for formal requests.

Another tone difference between can and may occurs when you use them negatively. Can I have your number? May I check your bag? It is also used for determining the possibility of something or informally ask for permission to do something.

It is also used to give and take permission to someone to do something. The points given below are substantial, so far as the difference between can and may is concerned:.

The best trick to recognize the difference between can and may is to understand the context in which they are used, i. What to Know Can and may can both be used to ask for permission, although "may" is considered more formal. More Words At Play. Merriam-Webster's Words of the Week - Oct. Homophones, Homographs, and Homonyms. Time Traveler. Love words? Need even more definitions?