Quote:
Originally Posted by riverkid  The possibility of rain cannot be finished. Only the actuality of rain or no rain can be finished. Telling someone what someone else said has nothing to do with the factuality of a situation.
With enough context, I can direct report weeks, months or even years later with; He said, "It may rain today". |
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tdol The possibility of something happening within a certain time can finish, and does when the time period expires- in the example, yesterday describes a completed period for the possibility. |
That's an impossibility, Tdol. A possibility cannot finish. Opinions can't finish and that's what modal and semi-modals do, offer our opinions on various fact situations. But only the fact can come to be or not come to be.
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Humble: It almost certainly will rain today.
Tdol: It very likely will rain today.
Riverkid: It probably will rain today.
Lenka: It may rain today.
BobK: It might rain today.
Mike: It probably won't rain today.
Rewboss: It almost certainly won't rain today.
Red 5: It may not rain today.
Coffa: It might not rain today.
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Which person's possibility finishes, Tdol?