[Grammar] He is the type of person who might appear ...

[NAL123]

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/might says:

3. MODAL VERB
You use "might" to indicate that something could happen or be true in particular circumstances.

a) (He is) the type of person who might appear in a fashion magazine.

Now consider these sentences, please:

b) He is the type of person who may appear in a fashion magazine.
c) He is the type of person who could appear in a fashion magazine.
d) He is the type of person who can appear in a fashion magazine.

Can I say that sentences a), b) and c) mean the same thing and sentence d) is different? What does sentence d) mean?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/might says:

3. MODAL VERB
You use "might" to indicate that something could happen or be true in particular circumstances.

a) (He is) the type of person who might appear in a fashion magazine.

Now consider these sentences, please:

b) He is the type of person who may appear in a fashion magazine.
c) He is the type of person who could appear in a fashion magazine.
d) He is the type of person who can appear in a fashion magazine.

Can I say that sentences a), b) and c) mean the same thing and sentence d) is different? What does sentence d) mean?

For practical purposes, I think they'd all be understood the same way.

As you know, can refers more to ability than likelihood. But in some sense, all four refer to ability — just not as directly. So I don't see an important difference between any of them.

But I'd like to see what others say.

 

[NAL123]

For practical purposes, I think they'd all be understood the same way.

As you know, can refers more to ability than likelihood. But in some sense, all four refer to ability — just not as directly. So I don't see an important difference between any of them.

But I'd like to see what others say.

Can I paraphrase the modals in sentences a), b), c) and d) with: "might"="might be able to"; "may"="may be able to"; "could"="would/might be able to" and "can"="will be able to"?

 

[Charlie Bernstein]

We wouldn't say "can be able to." The rest to-be-able-tos are wordy but otherwise okay.