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Chariot Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

modal in the past

0I haven't heard from him for a long time. 02br
02br
00He 01font00may be /may have been02font00 busy. Which is the correct verb? Thanks.0-
  

Top answer

02br 01b 01i 00He may/might have been busy02i 02b 00 refers to the past. You didn't hear from him, he may/might have been busy. (And he might still be busy too)02br 01i 01b 00He may/might be busy02b 02i 00 refers to the present.

— Kooyeen

  • 02br 01b 01i 00He may/might have been busy02i 02b 00 refers to the past.
  • You didn't hear from him, he may/might have been busy.
  • (And he might still be busy too)02br 01i 01b 00He may/might be busy02b 02i 00 refers to the present.
  • You don't hear from him, he may/might be busy.
  • (And he might have been busy recently too)02br 050010id1
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4 Answers
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0 Hi,02br
00 I think both are possible.02br
01b01i00He may/might have been busy02i02b00 refers to the past. You didn't hear from him, he may/might have been busy. (And he might still be busy too)02br
01i01b00He may/might be busy02b02i00 refers to the present. You don't hear from him, he may/m
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0The exercise specified that only one of them is correct. I throught that 01font00may have been02font00 was correct because it gives a sense of continuation from the past. But on the other way, 01font00may be02font00 is also correct. It refers to the present, and by the time I say I haven't heard from him,
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0
0 He may be busy.02br
02br
00 CJ0-
0
0
0I haven't heare from him in a long time.02br
02br
00If I want to say that "he has been busy in the period of time referred in the sentence", what would be the expression? Thanks. 0-
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