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Hhayrullahh Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Grammer Structure
Can we say
She can have been ill?
is this a true sentence?
She can have been ill?
is this a true sentence?
Top answer
It is better to use may in an affirmative clause: She may have been ill. Can is common in negative clauses: She can 't have been ill. (= It is highly unlikely that she was ill.
- It is better to use may in an affirmative clause: She may have been ill.
- Can is common in negative clauses: She can 't have been ill.
- (= It is highly unlikely that she was ill.
- ) CB
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2 Answers
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It is better to use may in an affirmative clause: She may have been ill. Can is common in negative clauses: She can't have been ill. (= It is highly unlikely that she was ill. / It doesn't seem at all possible that she was ill.)
CB
CB
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Hi. When you are talking about probabilities, can won't have affirmative and must cannot have negative forms.
Ex. He can't be John, He is at work at this time of day.
Ex. He must have ill, otherwise he would have come at the party.
We do not use must not for probability, cannot is used instead.
Regards
Ex. He can't be John, He is at work at this time of day.
Ex. He must have ill, otherwise he would have come at the party.
We do not use must not for probability, cannot is used instead.
Regards
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