 88  Can is now- more common than way от might to express informally the idea of permission, blit may is often used when talking of ourselves. May/might I help you? When the action was permitted and performed the expression was allowed to is preferable. When translating the story we were allowed to use a dictionary , so I took Cialpenn’s new dictionary. 2. Possibility of the fact (the so-called «factual possibility*). This meaning occurs only in affirmative sentences. You may find all the books you want in the library, (It is possible that you will find...) The railways may be improved. (It is possible that the railways will be improved.) «Factual possibility» (may) is «stronger» than "theoretical possibility» (can). Thus the above sentence could suggest that there are definite plans for improvement. May expressing possibility is replaced by can in questions and in negative sentences. 3. Prohibition (запрет) (only with the negative form of the modal verb). You may nor go swimming. (You are not allowed to...) — He смей купаться... You may not enter the room until I say so. — He смей входить в комнату. The contracted form mayn't is very rare. May is seldom used to express prohibition. There are other ways of expressing this idea which are more common. They are mustn't, can >, and don’t. Mustn't and can > are often found in negative answers to express prohibition instead of may not. 88 |
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