Ask the English Teacher

May or Can?

Carol in Texas asks:
We attended a baseball game recently where helpers were spaced around the stadium with signs stating “How Can I Help You?”

Isn’t the actual correct usage “How May I Help You?”

This question has really been bothering my entire family, and we are split down the middle of which is right or wrong, may vs can.

The distinction between the two is often blurred. But "can" refers to actual ability to do something:
He can play the piano.
They can't score a goal even when they try.
We can get there by noon if we leave now.

"May" involves choice and sometimes uncertainty:
You may leave the room when you finish the test.
If the traffic is good, we may get there by noon.
They may score a goal if they get a lucky break.

Suppose some bashful guy approaches a lovely girl and asks: "Can I take you to the dance?" Well, no doubt he can, if he's got access to a car or cab fare. Instead he should ask: "May I take you to the dance?" In other words, will you choose to go to the dance with me?

So in the case you mention, the signs should say: "How May I Help You?" Presumably the helpers can help you—that is, they have the training and ability. But until you tell them what you need, they're uncertain; it's up to you to choose.

Do or Make?

Miguel asks a big question about two small words:
My question is: when am I going to use do and when make?

In my dictionary, the definitions of "do" take up a quarter of a big page of small print. "Make" takes up half a page. We even have an expression, "make do," which means "manage with what you have":
"The recipe calls for six potatoes, but we can make do with three."

In most cases, "do" means to perform an action, but it can also mean to compose something—so it can be a synonym of "make." In general, however, "do" refers to an action and "make" to the creation of something. For example, a musician might say to his fellow-musicians:

"Let's do St. Louis Blues"—that is, let's play that song. But the musician might also say:
"You make St. Louis Blues sound like a funeral march." That is, you are creating a version of the song with a special style or quality.

If you look in your own dictionary, you'll be amazed at the number of expressions using "do" and "make." All I can suggest is that you learn them and use them.

You'll make me proud if you do!

Very Much Indeed!

Concetta asked a good question in the comments some time ago, and I'm sorry to have been so slow to answer it:
Can you tell me the difference between very and much. When is it correct to use very and when is it correct to use much and when is it interchangeable.

"Very" comes from Old French verrai, meaning "true." (The modern French word is vrai.) We tend to use it as an intensifier: "She seems very [truly] happy."

"Much" means great in quantity, amount, extent, or a remarkable thing:
We have too much work to do.
Thanks for your compliment, but I didn't really do much.

It can also mean to treat with regard:
He made much of her accomplishments.

And it can mean for the most part or nearly:
I've come to much the same conclusion that you did.

So the two terms aren't interchangeable, but we can use them together:
She's very much in love with him = She's truly a lot in love with him.

The Possessive of "Illinois"

Marie asks a good question:
Could you please address the possessive of Illinois? I've grown tired of writing, "the people of Illinois..." Is it, "Illinois's people...?" Or, "Illinois' people..."

Also, could you address how the possessive is spoken. Would it sound like, "Illinoises" or "Illinois?"

Forming the possessive of a noun ending in S or Z can be awkward. To answer Marie's question before going on to other issues, I would argue that since the S in Illinois is silent, "Illinois' " doesn't work. So I'd write "Illinois's" and pronounce it "Illinoise."

Some would protest, saying that "Illinoise" is also a dictionary-accepted pronunciation of "Illinois." Fine—in that case, the possessive should be "Illinois's" and pronounced "Illinoises."

Here in Canada we have a lot of French names ending in a silent S or X, and the Globe and Mail's style guide decrees that their possessives shall end in 'S:
Delacroix's (DEL-a-kwa's) paintings
Marois's (Mar-WA's) campaign
Duplessis's (du-ples-SEE's) cabinet

The general rule for possessives of singular nouns ending in a pronounced S, X or Z is to add 'S as with any other singular noun:
Dickens's novels
Jones's argument
Dix's report
Rodriguez's house

But we make a big exception for ancient names ending in an S or Z sound:
Pericles' policies
Socrates' question
Jesus' disciples

This exception seems to reflect a widespread feeling that it sounds silly to say "Pericleezes," "Socrateezes," and "Jesuses." So we'll treat those ancient singular nouns as if they were plurals.

Two more points: First, if we need to turn an S or Z noun into a plural, the possessive form of the plural will be ES':
The Joneses' house
The Dickenses' marriage
The Rodriguezes' business

Second, a plural noun that doesn't end in S takes 'S as its possessive:
men's wear
women's incomes
children's needs

And if Marie decides to go back to saying "the people of Illinois," I won't blame her!

The Apostrophe in Possessives

Nellie asks:
GODS ANTIDOTE TO WORRY
This is the sermon title for this week and I need to know if there is supposed to be an apostrophe in Gods.

Yes. The possessive form of a noun always needs an apostrophe: God’s antidote, Nellie’s question, Crawford’s answer.

When the noun is plural, the apostrophe comes after the S:

The Greek gods' home on Mount Olympus.
The Kellys' home on Elm Street.
The Kilians' noisy dogs.

A Question of Parallelism

Lynell writes:
Hoping you can answer the following question. Which is correct? The first or the second sentence below?

Visitors to the Outer Banks enjoy world-class sportfishing, eight championship golf courses, boating, windsurfing, hang gliding, and we're one of the top destinations in the world for shipwreck diving.

Visitors to the Outer Banks enjoy world-class sportfishing, eight championship golf courses, boating, windsurfing, hang gliding, and one of the top destinations in the world for shipwreck diving.

The second version is correct.

This is what we call "parallelism"—using the same parts of speech in a string of words or phrases. Writers can run into trouble especially when the string of word follows a verb. In Lynell's example, the verb is "enjoy." Let's break the sentence down.

Vistors to the Outer Banks enjoy
world-class sport fishing
eight championship golf courses
boating
windsurfing
hang gliding
and
one of the top destinations in the world for shipwreck diving

When we organize it like that, it's clear that every item in the list stems from "enjoy."

The first version is almost correct. Every item before the last one stems from "enjoy." If we put an "and" between "windsurfing" and "hang gliding," we could then use the remaining "and" to link two independent clauses.

Parallelism can cause other problems as well. Sometimes we need parallel grammatical forms:
Planning for disaster is wiser than to react when it strikes.

This would work better with either two infinitive phrases or two gerund phrases:
To plan for disaster is wiser than to react when it strikes.
Planning for disaster is wiser than reacting when it strikes.

Words like either and whether usually signal a parallel structure immediately following:
We must either
retrain our staff
or
lose our competitive edge.

He didn't know whether
to laugh
or
to cry when he heard the news.