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Teo Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

may/might/could not

He ___ not be at home tonight.
(A) may (B) might (C) could
A and B are correct. Is choice C also acceptable?
  

Top answer

Hi, yes, but the meaning changes. (a) and (b) can be used in the same situations, but not (c). He might not be at home.

— Kooyeen

  • Hi, yes, but the meaning changes.
  • (a) and (b) can be used in the same situations, but not (c).
  • He might not be at home.
  • Or maybe he is, I don't know.
  • He couldn't be at home.
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4 Answers
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Hi,
yes, but the meaning changes.
(a) and (b) can be used in the same situations, but not (c).

He might not be at home. Or maybe he is, I don't know.
He couldn't be at home. That [is/was/would be] impossible.<-- I can't think of any good examples right now. My imagination is pretty bad tonight.
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It's as Kooyeen says. could not says impossible that. The others don't. All are correct, though.

CJ
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01. He could not be at home tonight.02br
02br
002. He cannot be at home tonight.02br
02br
00What's the difference in meaning between the above two sentences?0-
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1i00can02i00 and 01i00could02i00 each have more than one meaning.02br
001a. He was not able to be at home tonight. (He had a previous engagement that prevented it.) 02br
001b. [Less frequent phrasing of 2b. See 2b, which has the same meaning.]02br
001c. He would not be able to be at home tonight. [A tentative, po
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