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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
May
Is the use of 'may' correct?
"The gun may have been fired, but it wasn't/didn't/haven't been."
"The gun may have been fired, but it wasn't/didn't/haven't been."
Top answer
Your sentence is anomalous. You need this: The gun could have been fired, but it wasn't. ) CJ
- Your sentence is anomalous.
- You need this: The gun could have been fired, but it wasn't.
- ) CJ
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4 Answers
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Your sentence is anomalous. You need this:
The gun could have been fired, but it wasn't.
(The gun was in working condition, but it wasn't fired.)
CJ
The gun could have been fired, but it wasn't.
(The gun was in working condition, but it wasn't fired.)
CJ
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What if I change the context?
The hunter may have brought down the lion, but he missed his shot.
The hunter may have brought down the lion, but he missed his shot.
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No. If someone may have done something, then the possibility exists that they did do it.
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AnonymousWhat if I change the context?The hunter may have brought down the lion, but he missed his shot.As mentioned above, no. For the meaning you want, it's The hunter could have brought down .... (He was normally good enough to do it, but on this occasion he missed.)
CJ
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