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Clee62 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
may or let
Hi,
I come across the sentence but i am not sure if it is right to use "may" as in the sentence "may the magic begin translating my letter to English." or Is it better to use "let". I always hear people say "let the magic begin!"
thanks
I come across the sentence but i am not sure if it is right to use "may" as in the sentence "may the magic begin translating my letter to English." or Is it better to use "let". I always hear people say "let the magic begin!"
thanks
Top answer
In this case, you could use either. 'May the force be with you', as Obiwan Kenobi says, is a rare use of the formulaic subjunctive. 'Let' is a more modern equivalent.
- In this case, you could use either.
- 'May the force be with you', as Obiwan Kenobi says, is a rare use of the formulaic subjunctive.
- 'Let' is a more modern equivalent.
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2 Answers
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In this case, you could use either.
'May the force be with you', as Obiwan Kenobi says, is a rare use of the formulaic subjunctive. 'Let' is a more modern equivalent.
'May the force be with you', as Obiwan Kenobi says, is a rare use of the formulaic subjunctive. 'Let' is a more modern equivalent.
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I think that there is a difference between 'let' and 'may'.
'May' expresses a wish:
May the force be with you.
May all your troubles be little ones. (A hackneyed utterance in speeches at British wedding breakfasts).
'Let' normally expresses a command to someone to allow/permit something:
Don't be so old fashioned. Let him have one glass of wine. He's
'May' expresses a wish:
May the force be with you.
May all your troubles be little ones. (A hackneyed utterance in speeches at British wedding breakfasts).
'Let' normally expresses a command to someone to allow/permit something:
Don't be so old fashioned. Let him have one glass of wine. He's
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