1. He may not be rich.
2. He can not be rich.
(Are both the same or different? If they are different, why is that?)
they are different because may gives a chance of it being a probability and writting can not is a statement and can not is more impulsive to say.
Brenda is right. Those sentences are not exactly alike.
"may" means there's a possibility of the statement's being true.
"can" means he is able to do or be something.
These sentences have "not" in them, of course, making them negative.
Both sentences are similar in meaning but have slightly different implications.
1. "He may not be rich." implies that there is a possibility that he is not rich. It leaves room for uncertainty or doubt about his wealth.
2. "He can not be rich." implies a stronger assertion that he is not wealthy. It suggests that there is a specific reason or circumstance that prevents him from being rich.
In summary, the first sentence emphasizes uncertainty, while the second sentence conveys a stronger assertion or limitation.