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Fire1 Posted 7 years ago
Grammar

May have done

1. Fifty years ago a worker may have been dismissed.

2. A worker may have been dismissed fifty years ago.


I wonder what is the grammatically correct sentence.

I think only 2 is correct because "fifty years ago" has to modify "dismissed" and if "fifty years ago" is placed before "a worker", "fifty years ago" does not fit with the present tense of "may".

So I think as for sentence 1, "may" must be changed to "might".

Am I right that in this view, only 2 is correct?

  

Top answer

Both seem fine to me. I see no difference in meaning, except that #1 slightly emphasizes fifty years ago. Clive

  • Both seem fine to me.
  • I see no difference in meaning, except that #1 slightly emphasizes fifty years ago.
  • Clive
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1 Answers
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Both seem fine to me.

I see no difference in meaning, except that #1 slightly emphasizes fifty years ago.

Clive

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