People are often uncertain about whether there is any difference between can and may when these verbs are used to ask for or grant permission. 当动词can和may用来表达请求或授予许可时,人们常常不确定这两个词是否存在不同。 看看下面两个例子是否有不同: Can I ask you a few questions? May I ask you a few questions? Can常用于与能力或技能相关的疑问句中,如: Can she swim? 她会游泳吗? Can you speak Italian? 你能说意大利语吗? May可以表示推测,意为“也许,可能”.如: She may be at home. Let’s go to see him. 她可能在家,我们去看看她吧。 用作请求时: The difference between the two verbs is that one is more polite than the other. In informal contexts it’s perfectly acceptable to use can; in formal situations it would be better to use may. 这两个词语的区别就是一个词语(may)比另一个(can)更为礼貌。在非正式的场合使用can是完全可以被接受的,在正式场合则使用may更为合适。 因此,上面两个句子都是正确的,只是使用may会更正式和礼貌一些。 小测验:选择正确的词语 |