aysaa
Senior Member
- Joined
- Nov 26, 2011
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- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Turkish
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- Turkey
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- Turkey
Hi,
Modal changes in indirect speech | Grammaring - A guide to English grammar
Student Stumper 5: May in Reported Speech | English with Jennifer
May (permission, present) : Could
May (permission, future) : Would be allowed to
I have read this information on these sites and I have been a little bit confused. If the things written about 'may' is true, I would like to ask if it is a rule or can we use 'might' instead of 'could / would be allowed to'? For example;
1- ''No one may leave the meeting before the vote is taken,” said the director.
a- The director said that no one could leave the meeting before the vote was taken.
b- The director said that no one might leave the meeting before the vote was taken.
2- You may leave the table now that you're finished with your dinner.
a- You could leave the table now that you're finished with your dinner.
b- You might leave the table now that you're finished with your dinner.
Could you please help me about this subject?
Thanks.
Modal changes in indirect speech | Grammaring - A guide to English grammar
Student Stumper 5: May in Reported Speech | English with Jennifer
May (permission, present) : Could
May (permission, future) : Would be allowed to
I have read this information on these sites and I have been a little bit confused. If the things written about 'may' is true, I would like to ask if it is a rule or can we use 'might' instead of 'could / would be allowed to'? For example;
1- ''No one may leave the meeting before the vote is taken,” said the director.
a- The director said that no one could leave the meeting before the vote was taken.
b- The director said that no one might leave the meeting before the vote was taken.
2- You may leave the table now that you're finished with your dinner.
a- You could leave the table now that you're finished with your dinner.
b- You might leave the table now that you're finished with your dinner.
Could you please help me about this subject?
Thanks.