Alternate ly , alternative ly Although or though? Altogether or all together? Amount of , number of or quantity of? Any more or anymore? Anyone , anybody or anything? Apart from or except for? Arise or rise? Around or round? Arouse or rouse? As or like? As , because or since? As , when or while? Been or gone? Begin or start? Beside or besides? Between or among? Born or borne? Bring , take and fetch Can , could or may?
Classic or classical? Come or go? Consider or regard? Consist , comprise or compose? Content or contents? Different from , different to or different than?
Do or make? Down , downwards or downward? During or for? Each or every? East or eastern ; north or northern? Economic or economical? Efficient or effective? Elder , eldest or older , oldest? End or finish? Especially or specially? Except or except for? Expect , hope or wait?
Experience or experiment? Fall or fall down? Far or a long way? Farther , farthest or further , furthest? Fast , quick or quickly? Fell or felt?
Female or feminine ; male or masculine? Finally , at last , lastly or in the end? First , firstly or at first? Fit or suit? Following or the following? For or since? Forget or leave? Full or filled? Fun or funny? Get or go? Grateful or thankful? 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. I came earlier so that I may help them. I came earlier so that I can help them. Please be on time so that we may leave before 5.
Please be on time so that we can leave before 5. The OP says, "I had read explanations that said that 'may' should be used after 'so that'". I don't think there is such a hard and fast grammar rule. Can and may can be used to express possibility and permission with some differences. When we talk about possibility, we use can , could and may , but they are different in meaning. It can be dangerous to cycle in the city.
This expresses what the speaker believes is a general truth or known fact, or a strong possibility. This does not express a general truth.
The speaker is only expressing a weak possibility. We use can, could and may to ask for permission. We use can and may , but not could , to give permission. May is less common:. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! Log in Sign Up. Usage Notes 'Can' vs. 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. Time Traveler.
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