nb2 20/3/12

Can’t stand

Spoken used to say that you do not like someone or something at all, or that you think that something is extremely unpleasant [= can't bear]:

I can't stand bad manners.

I know he can't stand the sight of me.

Can’t stand (somebody/something) doing something

Lily can't stand working in an office.

I can't stand people smoking around me when I'm eating.

Can’t stand to do something

She can't stand to hear them arguing.

CAN:

Possibility

Used to say that something is possible:

I am confident a solution can be found.

There can be no doubt that he is guilty.

The boxes can be stored flat.

Can he still be alive after all this time?

May

1

Possibility

If something may happen or may be true, there is a possibility that it will happen or be true but this is not certain [= might]:

I may be late, so don't wait for me.

Some chemicals may cause environmental damage.

There may not be enough money to pay for the repairs.

Well, I may have been wrong.

They may have called while you were out.

It may be that Minoan ships were built and repaired here.

Your job may well involve some travelling (=it is fairly likely).

Gramática

a) Posibilidad vs Probabilidad

"Can" indica que algo es posible (las circunstancias lo permiten o alguien tiene la habilidad de hacerlo).

I can play tennis quite well

I can open that door with my key

I can run for two hours

This car can go faster than 200 km per hour

You can go to France without a passport

"May" indica que algo es probable; equivale a "perhaps"

My friend may win the race

The sky is very dark. It may rain

b) Permiso

Se utilizan ambos verbos modales, con los siguientes matices:

- Tener permiso: "can" es más habitual.

I can smoke in the office

- Dar permiso: "may" es más habitual, "can" más informal.

You may smoke here if you want

You may use my computer

You can take my car (informal)

Si el permiso viene de un tercero se utiliza "can".

You can smoke here (la ley lo permite o las normas de esta oficina)

- Pedir permiso: "can" es más habitual y también más informal

Can I smoke in the office? (informal) / May I smoke in the office?(formal)

Can I speak to you? (informal) / May I speak to you? (formal)

c) Petición

- Solicitar algo: Se utilian ambos verbos modales

May (Can) I get your dictionary?

- Pedirle a alguien que haga algo: se suele utilizar "can"

Can you give me that book?

d) Ofrecimiento

Se utiliza ambos verbos modales

Can (May) I help you?

Knife – knives

Half - halves  

Wolf – wolves

Wife – wives

Shelf – shelves

Leaf – leaves

night /naɪt/

might ¹ /maɪt/

eight ¹ /eɪt/

bought /bɔːt/

laugh ¹ /læf / ||/lɑːf/

enough ¹ /ɪˈnʌf/

tough ¹ /tʌf/

though ¹ /ðəʊ/

Donkey

Pet

Squirrel

Goldfish

I like colourful fishes

Neighbour

carpa sustantivo femenino

1 ( Zool ) carp