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Leolyy Posted 20 years ago
Vocabulary
dismayed to the word "may"
0 To those who would help me with my problem: 02 br
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00 Please look at this sentence: "From the brief information you have provided, this office may assess your case." I just dont know the exact meaning of "may", does it mean "possibly can" or just "can", or something else? 02 br
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00 So, it seems that something around you appears to be too simple to master.. 02 br
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00 Thanks 02 br
00 leo 00 0-
02 br
00 Please look at this sentence: "From the brief information you have provided, this office may assess your case." I just dont know the exact meaning of "may", does it mean "possibly can" or just "can", or something else? 02 br
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00 So, it seems that something around you appears to be too simple to master.. 02 br
02 br
00 Thanks 02 br
00 leo 00 0-
Top answer
02 br 02 br 00 It could mean: 02 br 02 br 00 1. 02 br 02 br 00 2. 02 br 02 br 00 3.
- 02 br 02 br 00 It could mean: 02 br 02 br 00 1.
- 02 br 02 br 00 2.
- 02 br 02 br 00 3.
- 02 br 02 br 00 MrP 0-
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5 Answers
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0 Hello Leo, welcome to English Forums! 02 br
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00 It could mean: 02 br
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00 1. This office is permitted to assess your case. 02 br
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00 2. This office will possibly assess your case. 02 br
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00 3. This office is able to assess your case. 02 br
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00 You may need to check with them which meaning the
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00 It could mean: 02 br
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00 1. This office is permitted to assess your case. 02 br
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00 2. This office will possibly assess your case. 02 br
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00 3. This office is able to assess your case. 02 br
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00 You may need to check with them which meaning the
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0 Thanks a lot for your explanation. 02 br
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00 I'm a little confused now. As you have listed, it seems that the real meaning of certain words cannot be determined effectively. If so, could you tell which of the three is more close to its real meaning? 02 br
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00 By the way, I've sent another mail to the office and unfortunately got another similar response
02 br
00 I'm a little confused now. As you have listed, it seems that the real meaning of certain words cannot be determined effectively. If so, could you tell which of the three is more close to its real meaning? 02 br
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00 By the way, I've sent another mail to the office and unfortunately got another similar response
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0 Hello Leolyy 02 br
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00 It's very difficult to say which meaning is intended, in your original. Sometimes people don't take care to eliminate ambiguity from their letters, unfortunately. 02 br
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00 In the second response, it's probably best to take it as "be permitted to". 02 br
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00 Good luck! 02 br
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00 MrP 0-
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00 It's very difficult to say which meaning is intended, in your original. Sometimes people don't take care to eliminate ambiguity from their letters, unfortunately. 02 br
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00 In the second response, it's probably best to take it as "be permitted to". 02 br
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00 Good luck! 02 br
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00 MrP 0-
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0 More thanks to MrPedantic and for your final judgement. 02 br
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00 Besides, it is a little funny that the meaning intended is not very determined even at the last moment, as you said "probably best..". So, is it the one of the intrinsic features of English? 02 br
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00 All the best 02 br
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00 leo 0-
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00 Besides, it is a little funny that the meaning intended is not very determined even at the last moment, as you said "probably best..". So, is it the one of the intrinsic features of English? 02 br
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00 All the best 02 br
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00 leo 0-
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0 Hello Leolyy 02 br
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00 Yes, I think that's probably true. Ambiguity lurks beneath every modal verb, in English! 02 br
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00 MrP 0-
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00 Yes, I think that's probably true. Ambiguity lurks beneath every modal verb, in English! 02 br
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00 MrP 0-
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