Results 1 to 2 of 2
  1. #1
    joham is offline Senior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • China
      • Current Location:
      • China
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Posts
    1,421

    Default "may have done" used for the future

    Martin Hewings' ADVANCED GRAMMAR IN USE says 'may/might have done' can be used for the future:
    His maths may/ might have improved by the time next exam comes around.

    One of my Chinese netfriend says that 'may/might have done' can't be used for the future. I feel Hewings's sentence is perfect. But I can't persuade him to accept this sentence.
    May I ask native English teachers to explain if it is a good sentence?

    Thank you very much.

  2. #2
    riverkid is offline Banned
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    3,064

    Default Re: "may have done" used for the future

    Quote Originally Posted by joham View Post
    Martin Hewings' ADVANCED GRAMMAR IN USE says 'may/might have done' can be used for the future:
    His maths may/ might have improved by the time next exam comes around.

    One of my Chinese netfriend says that 'may/might have done' can't be used for the future. I feel Hewings's sentence is perfect. But I can't persuade him to accept this sentence.
    May I ask native English teachers to explain if it is a good sentence?

    Thank you very much.
    Hi Joham.

    We can say, [at least Brits can ] the 100% level of certainty sentence,

    His maths will have improved by the time next exam comes around.

    so of course we have to be able to modify that for level of certainty because that is a possible thought/scenario in life.

    His maths almost certainly will have improved by the time next exam comes around.

    His maths probably will have improved by the time next exam comes around.

    His maths may have improved by the time next exam comes around.

    His maths might have improved by the time next exam comes around.

Similar Threads

  1. essay on the future
    By lawyerquang in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 29-Dec-2006, 15:45
  2. Uncertain Future
    By ram in forum Editing & Writing Topics
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 07-Dec-2004, 18:48
  3. future progressive
    By vladz in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 08-Sep-2004, 18:50
  4. present future
    By valtango in forum General Language Discussions
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 13-Nov-2003, 20:17
  5. Do we have future tense?
    By shun in forum Teaching English
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 07-Oct-2003, 17:06

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Hotchalk

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.1