[Grammar] Might the reason for this be ...........

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xuzheng

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I read of this sentence"Might the reason for this be my containers don't do well." from a book.
Is this sentence wrong? If not, what is the reason that you can write like that?
 

cereal_chick

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Why might this sentence be wrong? Why do you think this sentence is wrong? The only problem is that it doesn't have a question mark when it is a question.

[Not a teacher]
 

billmcd

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I read of this sentence"Might the reason for this be my containers don't do well." from a book.
Is this sentence wrong? If not, what is the reason that you can write like that?

Modals (e.g. might, should, could, can etc.) are often used as lead words to form questions.
 

TheParser

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what is the reason that you can write like that?

***** NOT A TEACHER *****


English speakers sometimes start a question with "might" for many reasons:

1. They want to be super careful.

2. They want to be very polite.

3. They are not sure about the facts.

4. They are hesitant to say something (They don't want to say something, but they decide to say it).

5. They do not want to say something directly (that is, in a very clear -- and sometimes unkind -- manner).

*****

For example, many people in ordinary conversation might ask:

Is the reason for this the fact that my containers don't do well?

When you use the "might" sentence, the question is softer.

*****

(The Parser cannot get a job) Might the reason be that he lacks the right qualifications? (It's too brutal to say: Is the reason the fact that he is stupid?)

(Mona cannot get a job) Might the reason be that she is a female? (Too brutal: Is the reason the fact that the managers are prejudiced against females?)

(Mr. X claims that people dislike him because of his race) Might the real reason be that he is a very unpleasant person? (Too brutal: Is the real reason the fact that he is a rude and obnoxious person who is hated by everyone?)

*****

Credit: The uses of "might" are explained in many books, including the Longman English Grammar by the beloved teacher L.G. Alexander. All of the examples in this post are mine -- not his. I am completely responsible for any mistakes.
 

xuzheng

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Re: Calis

Why might this sentence be wrong? Why do you think this sentence is wrong? The only problem is that it doesn't have a question mark when it is a question.

[Not a teacher]
Is it possible that he is Using" might" to talk about something that is possible? Can we change this sentence to "maybe the reason for this be......"?
 

xuzheng

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Modals (e.g. might, should, could, can etc.) are often used as lead words to form questions.
If might were a modal verb there ,it would be correct.
 

xuzheng

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***** NOT A TEACHER *****


English speakers sometimes start a question with "might" for many reasons:

1. They want to be super careful.

2. They want to be very polite.

3. They are not sure about the facts.

4. They are hesitant to say something (They don't want to say something, but they decide to say it).

5. They do not want to say something directly (that is, in a very clear -- and sometimes unkind -- manner).

*****

For example, many people in ordinary conversation might ask:

Is the reason for this the fact that my containers don't do well?

When you use the "might" sentence, the question is softer.

*****

(The Parser cannot get a job) Might the reason be that he lacks the right qualifications? (It's too brutal to say: Is the reason the fact that he is stupid?)

(Mona cannot get a job) Might the reason be that she is a female? (Too brutal: Is the reason the fact that the managers are prejudiced against females?)

(Mr. X claims that people dislike him because of his race) Might the real reason be that he is a very unpleasant person? (Too brutal: Is the real reason the fact that he is a rude and obnoxious person who is hated by everyone?)

*****

Credit: The uses of "might" are explained in many books, including the Longman English Grammar by the beloved teacher L.G. Alexander. All of the examples in this post are mine -- not his. I am completely responsible for any mistakes.
thank you so much!!!
 

5jj

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Re: Calis

Is it possible that he is Using" might" to talk about something that is possible?
Well, he is asking about the possibility of something.


Can we change this sentence to "maybe the reason for this [STRIKE]be[/STRIKE] is ......"?
No. That's not a question.
5
 

5jj

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If might were a modal verb there ,it would be correct.
'Might' is a modal verb.

Note that we leave a space after a puntuation mark, not before it.
 

xuzheng

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Re: Note that we leave a space after a puntuation mark, not before it

'Might' is a modal verb.

Note that we leave a space after a puntuation mark, not before it.

:-D thank you for reminding me that!
 
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