tdol said:
tdol said:In BE, we tend to use it with a single meaning, though some would use it for both. ;-)
tdol said:I think it is, as I'd use them the other way around. I find it amazing just how many differences there are between the two. ;-)
tdol said:In BE, the following would be used:
1- He might have died. (he survived an incident where there was a possiblility of dying)
2- He may have died. (we don't know whether he has died or not- he's missing up a mountain in a storm, say.)
However, the distinction is being eroded and many people now are using 'may' for the fisrt meaning.
;-)
darren said:tdol said:In BE, the following would be used:
1- He might have died. (he survived an incident where there was a possiblility of dying)
2- He may have died. (we don't know whether he has died or not- he's missing up a mountain in a storm, say.)
However, the distinction is being eroded and many people now are using 'may' for the fisrt meaning.
;-)
Tdol teacher:
He might have died (BE)=He could have died(AE)
He may have died(BE)=He might have died(AE)
I hope i got it right.Feel free to correct me if any.
gonghai said:like for example, other info was given such as luckly his friend, who is a doctor was beside him or he might have died in the accident.
gonghai said:like for example, other info was given such as luckly his friend, who is a doctor was beside him or he might have died in the accident.
In BE, the following would be used:
1- He might have died. (he survived an incident where there was a possiblility of dying)
2- He may have died. (we don't know whether he has died or not- he's missing up a mountain in a storm, say.)
However, the distinction is being eroded and many people now are using 'may' for the fisrt meaning.
Here is the situation:
Two friends make it to the beach after their boat sinks. They notice that the third friend, Bill, is missing.
Oh no! where is Bill?
He might have drowned.
He could have drowned.
He may have drowned.
I don't see any difference here. There are situations where these modals separate more significant degrees of meaning, but in this case they all mean "possibly dead."