Eventually or might or possibly

Question

Hello,I read that it is possible to use: 'might' and 'possibly' instead of  'eventually'.Eg., That might be useful.       Paul will be there and possibly Ann.       Will you come? I might.       I reread and if necessary I correct.(Is it a zero conditional?)But at the end of this grammar point I read:But: He will do it eventually.Why is it a mistake to use either of them and say: He will do it possibly or He might do it.Nina

LouiseT · Accepted Answer

Hello

Are you using "eventually" with the French meaning because in English eventually means in the end, especially after a long time or a lot of effort, problems. It is not the same as Might or possibly which are to do with possibility.

He will do it eventually - certainly but maybe not immediately.
He might do it / he will possibly do it - possibility, maybe immediately

Anonymous · Answer

Hello,

thank you very much for your help, but I still have some questions.

I found this rule in the grammar point about the French meaning of this word. You asked if I was using '' eventually'' with the French meaning. No, I wasn't but what if I was using it in this way would the French and English meanings be the same?

Nina

LouiseT · Answer

No this would not be the same. The French word éventuellement translates into English as possibly, maybe or might depending on how it is used

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you.

Anonymous · Answer

May you please to repond to me in french?

LouiseT · Answer

I am very sorry but my French is not good enough to discuss grammar. <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/10.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/10.gif' alt='Emotion: embarrassed'/> I would love to be able to help you. I would hate to make a mistake in French and so give you the wrong answer. I hope you find someone who can help you.

CalifJim · Answer

ninaniaBut at the end of this grammar point I read:
But: He will do it eventually.
Why is it a mistake to use either of them and say: He will do it possibly or He might do it.
Nina

eventually is not the same as eventuellement. I had a French tutor who consistently misused the English word eventually by substituting it in English wherever he would have used eventuellementin French. What a mess he could make of English with just that one word!

(In contrast, to be fair I should mention that I made a mess of French with all the words.)

eventuellement = possibly, perhaps, maybe, (and sometimes "if need be", "if necessary")
(Of course, "possibly" can also be rendered by the modal verbs "may" and "might".)

eventually = a la longue, a la fin, tot ou tard

Students struggle for a long time with English, but eventually they understand it.
Henry owed me $50 for months. I began to think he would never pay me. Well, he did pay me eventually. Just last week, in fact.
Police detectives searched for the missing woman for weeks. Eventually they found her.
The gardener is supposed to trim that tree, but he hasn't done it yet. I'm getting impatient, even though I know he will certainly do it eventually.
Read the text several times. Even if you don't understand it the first time, I'm sure you will understand it eventually.

I believe the busses are running late today, but wait here, and one will come by eventually.
The clues in that mystery story were very obscure, but eventually I figured out who committed the murders.

-- Gary, when are you going to get your homework done?
-- Eventually.
-- What do you mean 'eventually'? Do it now!

-- These new shoes are making my feet sore.
-- Don't worry. Eventually you'll get used to them.

J'aurais eventuellement besoin de votre concours.
I may need your help. / I might (possibly) need your help.

Eventuellement, nous pourrions ...
We could perhaps ... / Maybe we could ... / We could possibly ... / We might possibly ...

Eventuellement je prendrais ma voiture.
If need be, I'd take my car. / If necessary, I'd take my car. / If it comes to that, I'd take my car.

Vous pouvez m'écrire ou éventuellement m'appeler.
You can write to me, or possibly, call me. / You can write to me, or if it comes to that, call me. / You can write to me, or you might possibly call me if need be.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you very much for such a detailed explanation! <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

Siernan · Answer

Thank you - again it is not necessary for post a question. I come to the forum and find my anser.

very super.

Eventually or might or possibly

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