Question
Updated on
3 Dec 2020
- Korean
-
English (US)
Question about English (US)
What is the difference between
You are not sitting next to him.
and
You may not sit next to him.
and
You can't sit next to him.
?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
What is the difference between
You are not sitting next to him.
and
You may not sit next to him.
and
You can't sit next to him.
?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
You are not sitting next to him.
and
You may not sit next to him.
and
You can't sit next to him.
?Feel free to just provide example sentences.
Answers
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- English (US)
“You are not sitting next to him” can mean an rude/impolite command. It could also mean you aren’t sitting next to him, you’re sitting next to her.
“You may not sit next to him” is a polite command
“You cant sit next to him” is also another polite command, but less polite than the second sentence. Or it can be interpreted like something you physically can’t do. “You can’t sit next to him because there isn’t a chair there”
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- English (US)
You are not sitting next to him - you are currently not sitting next to him. Also, it could be that they are implying the thought of not wanting you to sit next to him.
Other Examples:
You are not doing it.
You are not Giving it to him.
You may not sit next to him - you are not permitted to sit next to him. You are capable of sitting next to him but you are not allowed to.
Other Examples:
You may not go to the party.
You may not take the money.
You can not sit next to him - You are unable to sit next to him. It is not possible to sit next to him. They are not allowing you to sit next to him no matter what/a strong disapproval of permission.
Other Examples"
You can not reach the goal.
You can not enter the basement.
You can not finish the game.
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- English (US)
When used as a command, these all mean the same thing. You can tell when they are used as commands by context and a strong tone of voice. "You may not sit next to him" is the most polite command.
When not a command, "You are not sitting next to him." just states the fact that the person is currently not sitting next to him.
"You are not sitting next to him, you know, you are sitting next to Kayla. Look to your left."
"You can't sit next to him." is usually used as a command, but can mean that, for some reason, the person is physically unable to sit next to him. "He is absent from school today, and so you can't sit next to him."
Finally, "You may not sit next to him" is almost always a
command, but can mean that the person might end up not sitting next to him for some reason.
"The seating chart is random, and so you may not sit next to him."
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