Can para permisos vs habilidades en inglés

Understanding English grammar gets easier when you see how one small word changes meaning. Learn how to use can for permission (not just ability), when may sounds more formal, and how to form clear affirmative, negative, and question sentences that people use every day.

How does can show permission vs ability?

In English, can expresses both ability and permission. The difference depends on context. You might have the skill to do something, but not the authorization to do it. That contrast is the key.

• In a specific situation, can can mean permission. For example: "Yes, you can use the calculator in class." Here, the teacher is giving permission.
• You might have the ability, but lack permission. For example: "You can't park here." There is space and you can drive, but the sign removes permission.
• At work, authority matters. For example: "John, you can't leave early. You can't go home early." You could physically leave, but your boss does not allow it.

What do affirmative and negative sentences look like?

• Affirmative permission: You can + base verb. Example: "You can use the calculator in class."
• Negative permission: You can't + base verb. Examples: "You can't park here." / "You can't leave early."
• Tip: ability vs permission depends on situation. Look at who is speaking and what rules apply.

When should you use may instead of can?

Both questions can ask for permission, but they differ in tone and focus.

• Can I go to the bathroom? People usually understand this as asking for permission in everyday contexts.
• May I go to the bathroom? This is more formal and refers only to permission.
• Note: the use of may as exclusively permission-focused is an advanced point. For now, using can is widely understood.

How do questions change meaning?

• With the ability meaning, Can I go to the bathroom? could be about physical capacity.
• In real-life use, the same question is taken as a polite request for permission, especially in class.
• If you want a formal tone: "May I go to the bathroom?"

What should you practice now?

Practice builds confidence. Focus on can to talk about permission in three forms.

• Write 3 affirmative permission sentences with can. Example model: You can use...
• Write 3 negative permission sentences with can't. Example model: You can't + verb...
• Write 3 questions asking for permission with can. Example model: Can I + verb...?

What key vocabulary should you notice?

• can: modal verb for ability and permission.
• can't: negative form of can used to deny permission.
• ability: what you are able to do physically or skill-wise.
• permission: what an authority allows you to do.
• affirmative sentence: a positive statement, e.g., "You can use the calculator in class."
• negative sentence: a statement that denies permission, e.g., "You can't park here."
• question: a request for permission, e.g., "Can I go to the bathroom?" / "May I go to the bathroom?"
• formal: more polite style; may sounds more formal than can.
• context: the situation that clarifies whether can means ability or permission.

Share your practice in the comments: write three affirmative permission sentences, three negative ones, and three questions using can. I will read them.