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Pructus Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
May work VS may be working
Police are investigating the theft of $200,000 from the safe of the Neptune Finance Company in downtown Cincinnati yesterday. Employees discovered the theft shortly after arriving for work in the morning. Police suspect that the thief may work for the company. But Neptune’s owner and president, Francisco Hernandez, who was in Paris at the time of the theft, has his doubts.
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Hi!
The underlined part, shouldn't it be "may be working" or "may have been working"?
******
Hi!
The underlined part, shouldn't it be "may be working" or "may have been working"?
Top answer
No, it means the person who stole the money is an employee of Neptune. He or she works for the company.
- No, it means the person who stole the money is an employee of Neptune.
- He or she works for the company.
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3 Answers
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No, it means the person who stole the money is an employee of Neptune.
He or she works for the company.
He or she works for the company.
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Thanks Grammar Geek!!
I understood the meaning, but to me, "may work" felt like meaning "may work in the future".
So, "may be working" or "may have been working" seemed to be better option.
But, native speaker's sense seems to be different from what I felt......
I understood the meaning, but to me, "may work" felt like meaning "may work in the future".
So, "may be working" or "may have been working" seemed to be better option.
But, native speaker's sense seems to be different from what I felt......
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pructusI understood the meaning, but to me, "may work" felt like meaning "may work in the future".An interesting interpretation. I can see why you would look at it this way but the term "may work" in a context like this is always understood to mean "might be a current
So, "may be working" or "may have been working" seemed to be better option.
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