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Viceidol Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

There can be a strike next week.←Is this correct?

There can be a strike next week.

Is there any problem with this sentence?

One of my grammar book says this sentence is wrong because "can" cannot be used in future tense, and "can" should be replaced by "may/might".

But I think it wouldn't be wrong to say "There can be a strike next week.", because I think it also means "There is possibility that a strike may occur next week." What do you think? Am I right?

Please give me your opinion, thank you!
  

Top answer

I think your grammar book is correct in a formal sense. com for "there may be * next week" However, many would use can in that situation--this is tolerated and understood. Henry A.

— Marius Hancu

  • I think your grammar book is correct in a formal sense.
  • com for "there may be * next week" However, many would use can in that situation--this is tolerated and understood.
  • Henry A.
  • Kissinger Quotes There can't be a crisis next week .
  • My schedule is already full.
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2 Answers
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I think your grammar book is correct in a formal sense.

Good sites (the BBC and the NY Times) show the following hits:

0 from bbc.co.uk for "there can be * next week"
4 from bbc.co.uk for "there may be * next week"

1 of 1 from nytimes.com for "there can be * next week" thus very small
1,220 from nytimes.com for "there
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Thank you very much, Marius Hancu, you've been a great help to me!
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