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Anonymous Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Modals
Hello,
I did an exercice that included the following sentence.
I ....................... jumped out of the window but I felt too scared.
According to the key three options are available: could have, might have and may have. The third one seems strange to me. Isn't may used only when we are unsure whether or not something happened?
Could you help me?
Cheers
Katia
I did an exercice that included the following sentence.
I ....................... jumped out of the window but I felt too scared.
According to the key three options are available: could have, might have and may have. The third one seems strange to me. Isn't may used only when we are unsure whether or not something happened?
Could you help me?
Cheers
Katia
Top answer
Hi, The answer is could have . You are talking about a past opportunity of jumping out of the window. ____________________ Although may have jumped seems strange to you, it means the same as might have jumped .
- Hi, The answer is could have .
- You are talking about a past opportunity of jumping out of the window.
- ____________________ Although may have jumped seems strange to you, it means the same as might have jumped .
- However, both may have and might have are not the correct answers.
- By the way, in many contexts may and might mean the same thing.
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8 Answers
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Hi,
The answer is could have. You are talking about a past opportunity of jumping out of the window.
____________________
Although may have jumped seems strange to you, it means the same as might have jumped.
However, both may have and might have are not the correct answers.
By the way, in many contexts may a
The answer is could have. You are talking about a past opportunity of jumping out of the window.
____________________
Although may have jumped seems strange to you, it means the same as might have jumped.
However, both may have and might have are not the correct answers.
By the way, in many contexts may a
00
Both may have and might have are given in the key. Any idea why this is so?
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Hi,
I assume both are given simply to make students feel confused. Other than that, I detect no difference between the
two in meaning.
Regards
I assume both are given simply to make students feel confused. Other than that, I detect no difference between the
two in meaning.
Regards
00
Perhaps I didn't express myself clear enough.
The key to this exercise includes could have, may have and might have as correct options. If I understood correctly you find may have and might have in the above sentence incorrect.Perhaps this is a case of AmE/BrE differece.
The key to this exercise includes could have, may have and might have as correct options. If I understood correctly you find may have and might have in the above sentence incorrect.Perhaps this is a case of AmE/BrE differece.
00
That is a possibility (an AmE/BrE difference). I too find 'may have' odd but 'might have' a reasonable option.
00
Hi,
I should have been clearer when posting my comment. In my opinion, the most reasonable answer
to your question of the options given would be could have. However, both may have and might have would be
grammatically correct. I do not think may have is odd, though.
Regards
I should have been clearer when posting my comment. In my opinion, the most reasonable answer
to your question of the options given would be could have. However, both may have and might have would be
grammatically correct. I do not think may have is odd, though.
Regards
00
Could you both tell me whether you speak British or American English?
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I'm American (with a sprinkling of Canadian) and Regards is British.
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