0
Vocabobobo Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
May also....
Hello folks. I would like to ask you a question about the word may.
I'm afraid my question may be a bit vague and confusing, but I'll do my best to try to make it as clear as possible. Here's my question: please suppose there is a phenomenon C, and mechanisms A and B are established/suspected mechanisms by which C occurs.
If I said "C occurs by mechanism A. It may also occur by mechanism B", and if the mechanism A is an established mechanism for C, while B is only a suspected one, the quoted sentence should mean "the phenomenon C is known to occur by mechanism A. There is also a possibility that C occurs by mechanism B"
On the other hand, if both the mechanism A and B are established mechanisms for C, the quoted sentence should mean "the phenomenon C can occur by either of mechanism A or B".
Is my understanding of the word may correct?
Does may have a context-dependent nature as I described above?
please help, and please feel free to point out frankly any vagueness in my question.
Thank you so much in advance.
I'm afraid my question may be a bit vague and confusing, but I'll do my best to try to make it as clear as possible. Here's my question: please suppose there is a phenomenon C, and mechanisms A and B are established/suspected mechanisms by which C occurs.
If I said "C occurs by mechanism A. It may also occur by mechanism B", and if the mechanism A is an established mechanism for C, while B is only a suspected one, the quoted sentence should mean "the phenomenon C is known to occur by mechanism A. There is also a possibility that C occurs by mechanism B"
On the other hand, if both the mechanism A and B are established mechanisms for C, the quoted sentence should mean "the phenomenon C can occur by either of mechanism A or B".
Is my understanding of the word may correct?
Does may have a context-dependent nature as I described above?
please help, and please feel free to point out frankly any vagueness in my question.
Thank you so much in advance.
Top answer
A and B are established/suspected mechanisms by which C occurs. Can we say that both A and B are needed for C to occur? I don't think so.
- A and B are established/suspected mechanisms by which C occurs.
- Can we say that both A and B are needed for C to occur?
- I don't think so.
- It could mean that you need both of them but it could also mean that either A or B is sufficient for C to occur.
- In my opinion you need the latter explanation otherwise the use of may contradicts what I've just said.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1 Answers
0
A and B are established/suspected mechanisms by which C occurs.
Can we say that both A and B are needed for C to occur? I don't think so.
It could mean that you need both of them but it could also mean that either A or B is sufficient for C to occur.
In my opinion you need the latter explanation otherwise the use of may contradicts what I've just said.
0
Related Questions