Please explain the grammar of this sentence.
May the president live a long time!
Top answer
It's a special use of ' may ' to express a wish or hope , eg in making a toast or at the end of a speech. Think of it this way. Long version: I hope that the president will live a long time!
- It's a special use of ' may ' to express a wish or hope , eg in making a toast or at the end of a speech.
- Think of it this way.
- Long version: I hope that the president will live a long time!
- Short version: May the president live a long time!
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It's a special use of 'may' to express a wish or hope, eg in making a toast or at the end of a speech.
Think of it this way.
Long version: I hope that the president will live a long time!
Short version: May the president live a long time!
0May the president live a long time!
Clauses like this that express wishes are called 'optatives'.
"May" seems like the let in let-imperatives, but syntactically the noun following "may" is clearly the subject.
The meaning of "may" is similar to "I hope/pray".
Is that what you wa
0Please post each question only once. Two knowledgeable members have replied in this thread, so there was no need to post the question again.
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