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#Post#: 12250--------------------------------------------------
Could, May and Might
DIR By: Nikola
Date: February 8, 2019, 7:09 am
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I came across this the other day
HTML https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/modals-and-modality/could-may-and-might
I'd like to know how native speakers see it. Would you use
could, may and might in different situations, to express
different degrees of certainty, or do you see them as
interchangeable?
The example is about something that could/may/might happen in
the future:
The restaurant may close.
The restaurant could close.
The restaurant might close.
It also says that the speaker shows degree of certainty by
stressing either the modal verb (meaning they're less certain)
or the main verb (if they're more certain).
The restaurant might close = less certain than The restaurant
might close.
#Post#: 12251--------------------------------------------------
Re: Could, May and Might
DIR By: Truman Overby
Date: February 8, 2019, 8:14 am
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My first thought is that they're interchangeable. I suppose that
I could make a case that each one has a different degree of
certainty. But that might be a stretch and an unnecessary
slicing and dicing. My advice is to keep it simple and use the
first one that pops into your head.
I should have clarified that my advice and observations are
based on my experience as a native speaker of American English.
I suppose that you're looking at this from a British English
perspective. At any rate, it's not an easy question to answer,
in my considered opinion. But it's free advice and you know what
they say about the worth of free advice. ;)
#Post#: 12252--------------------------------------------------
Re: Could, May and Might
DIR By: Coligno
Date: February 8, 2019, 8:24 am
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At least in the example sentences you gave, "may" seems to
express a slightly more remote possibility than "might", but it
also sounds more formal; "might" is much more common in
colloquial speech. With "could", I'd be more likely to expect a
conditional clause to go with it, e.g. "The restaurant could
close if they find out what you've been putting in the soup".
Those aren't hard and fast rules, though, and I'd say you could
usually get away with using them interchangeably.
The bit about stressing the modal or the main verb is correct.
#Post#: 12253--------------------------------------------------
Re: Could, May and Might
DIR By: NealC
Date: February 8, 2019, 8:26 am
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You have to watch which one you use with your grandmother as you
should ask for things with the phrase "May I". "May I" is more
polite.
"Nana could I go outside and play"
"I don't know, could you?"
"Well, yes I think I could"
"Then why are you asking"
"Because mom told me to"
Then follows the lecture about "could" refers to ability, while
when asking permission all good and polite children use the word
"may".
"Oh. May I go outside"
"Yes you May".
"Jeez Nana, could we just cut to the chase next time?"
"We may, but no one likes a smartass, dear"
Unless you are impersonating royalty don't ask for things with
the words "Might I"....
#Post#: 12254--------------------------------------------------
Re: Could, May and Might
DIR By: Nikola
Date: February 8, 2019, 9:05 am
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Thank you all for your feedback so far.
Coligno, this is interesting because according to the source I
mentioned above, may should be the most likely of them all.
That's the exact opposite of how you feel about it. Mind you, it
does also say "Many native speakers disagree on which one
expresses more or less certainty."
Regarding may being more formal, I keep hearing this but I've
heard it used quite a lot in informal speech (we're talking
about the may that indicates certainty, not the may you would
use in a polite question), especially with "well".
"It may well close down."
"It may well be that we'll have to find another place."
But then again, does well mean I'm more certain? :)
#Post#: 12256--------------------------------------------------
Re: Could, May and Might
DIR By: Coligno
Date: February 8, 2019, 9:36 am
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The collocation "may well" isn't the same as "may" by itself.
"May well" can be quite informal and, as you guessed, that
"well" does have the function of making it more certain. "Might
well" can be used interchangeably with "may well", I don't
really feel any difference there. I suppose "could well" means
pretty much the same thing too, but I'd say it's less common.
It's perfectly possible that "may" by itself is more normal in
some areas and doesn't sound particularly formal.
#Post#: 12262--------------------------------------------------
Re: Could, May and Might
DIR By: Susan
Date: February 8, 2019, 11:06 am
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Where I am from ¨may¨ is not more probable than ¨might.¨ All of
those depend on context and tone of voice for the listening to
make a judgment about the probabilities.
#Post#: 12277--------------------------------------------------
Re: Could, May and Might
DIR By: Nikola
Date: February 8, 2019, 4:30 pm
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Thanks Coligno and Wendy.
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