0
Osee Posted 18 years ago
Vocabulary

may not be able to = can not?

But Yahoo may not be able to avoid a buyout by Microsoft.

I think the phrase may not be able to simply equals can not or cannot. Do you think so?
  

Top answer

My take, If you say cannot, I understand it something which is certain. "May" adds a meaning of probability here which softens the circumstances.

— Doll

  • My take, If you say cannot, I understand it something which is certain.
  • "May" adds a meaning of probability here which softens the circumstances.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
My take,

If you say cannot, I understand it something which is certain. "May" adds a meaning of probability here which softens the circumstances.
0
0
No, Osee - you're taking away all of the uncertainty.

May not be able to = may be unable to = it may happened, whether Yahoo want to or not, but it's not certain.
0

Related Questions