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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

"He can be in his office because the light's out."

Why can we say:

"He can't be in his office because the light's out."

"He may be in his office because the light's on."

but not:

"He can be in his office because the light's out."
  

Top answer

Someone isn't likely to be sitting in an office with no lights on; therefore, if the lights are out, he's probably not in there: "He can't be in his office because the lights are out" is logical and correct. The office lights MAY BE ON, but that doesn't mean that anyone is in the office. "He may be in his office because the lights are on" is a logical conclusion.

— Ikia

  • Someone isn't likely to be sitting in an office with no lights on; therefore, if the lights are out, he's probably not in there: "He can't be in his office because the lights are out" is logical and correct.
  • The office lights MAY BE ON, but that doesn't mean that anyone is in the office.
  • "He may be in his office because the lights are on" is a logical conclusion.
  • He may or he may not be there.
  • Now, the third sentence implies that someone is sitting in an office with the lights out.
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13 Answers
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Someone isn't likely to be sitting in an office with no lights on; therefore, if the lights are out, he's probably not in there: "He can't be in his office because the lights are out" is logical and correct.

The office lights MAY BE ON, but that doesn't mean that anyone is in the office. "He may be in his office because the lights are on" is a logical conclusion. He may or he may not be
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Did you intend to end the post with this?

but not:
"He can be in his office because the light's on."

CJ



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Sorry, I meant:

"He can be in his office because the light's on."

If you can say "may/might/could be in his office, why not "can be"?
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When you want to make an assumption, you use may/might/could instead of can.
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Why? Because that is the usage of those words in English. Why is a long green vegetable called a cucumber?
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Mister MicawberWhy? Because that is the usage of those words in English. Why is a long green vegetable called a cucumber?

That's it then? No other reason?
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Mister Micawber Why is a long green vegetable called a cucumber?

Because that's his name...
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If you can say "may/might/could be in his office, why not "can be"?

It may help to think of it this way. The principal modals of logic are the M-words "might" and "must".

He might be in the office. It is possible that he is in the office.
He might not be in the office. It is possible that he is not in the office.
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