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		Grammar and Linguistics > Modals of deduction     
			
		 Modals of deduction 
		
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 mish.cz
 
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							| Modals of deduction 
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							| Dear colleagues and ESLP friends of mine,�
 I �m planning a lesson about modals of certainty. Is that right if I say, the the modals MAY, MIGHT and COULD all express possibility/probability, with the information that MAY is supposed to express the strongest and COULD the weakest degree of certainty about the statement? I am aware of the fact that it can be just a formal principle but still, is that ok? Thanks a lot, Mish |  5 Dec 2010      
					
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 06.04
 
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							| it is not discussible, you should apply to a grammar reference book. |  5 Dec 2010     
					
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 mish.cz
 
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							| I usually use this forum
to ask people who have more experience with the real use English (luckily
native speakers but don�t stick to it) than me about things that I have learned
somewhere else (usually in grammar guides or yet better at university which is
a while ago) and simply want to make sure by reading their opinions because the
grammar guides might sometimes be a little too much theoretical and the native
users might be a valuable source of information to compare with what is written
in them.  I always try to be polite
and feel very grateful if someone really tries to give me an answer.  Greetings, Mish |  5 Dec 2010     
					
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 blunderbuster
 
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							| Mish is a very kind and helpful member and should be allowed to ask anything she wants, as long as she doesn �t want to know my bank account number or passowrd for this site ;o) 
 
  
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 mish.cz
 
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							|  �My dear Regina:-) Missing you and your lovely sense of humor.�
 
 Thank you, Kodora, for the link. It proves the difference of the meaning of could but still doubtful about may and might� BTW the site seems to be pretty good. Thanks a lot. |  5 Dec 2010     
					
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 yanogator
 
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							| Dora �s link is a good one. In common usage here in the US, there is really no distinction among "may", "might" and "could". We use "may" and "might" completely interchangably, and sometimes use "could" in different sentences, but no stronger or weaker in certainty than the other two. Where did you get that information?   Also, who is 06.04, and why do you say it is not discussable? This is the kind of thing we often discuss here.   Bruce |  5 Dec 2010     
					
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 mish.cz
 
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							| Thank you, Bruce, so much and once again!!! Such an answer is what I was looking for.
 To be honest I cannot tell you now where this information is from because at the moment I am browsing my older materials I took from different sources a year or so ago and printed them to take them home for the weekend not to have too much rest:-) �It must have occurred in some profound linguistic source:-) Sorry for that. |  5 Dec 2010     
					
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 blunderbuster
 
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							| Bruce is my most favorite member here, I love men with beards, with or without an excellent understanding of grammar ;o) |  5 Dec 2010     
					
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 zailda
 
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							| Hi   Talking about probability, the strongest is must (logical deduction) and cannot corresponding to it in the negative.   Could (used with have + participle) / may mean "probably" and might means "it �s possible" but also implies there are other possible options, so it means a less degree of possibility than may / could.   Deduction --> stronger   The door is open but I saw Lin going to work an hour ago. She cannot be home. (deduction using the information I have)   John is in a hurry. He must be late. (deduction, using the information I have)   John is not home. He works from 8 to 6. It �s 6:20. He may be stuck in traffic. ("probably")   In past situations, may / could are used interchangeably:   The Millers could have saved their house, but no one noticed the fire.   the least degree of probability   John is not home. He might be about to arrive. (or might be at work, or at his sister �s) |  5 Dec 2010     
					
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