Might/may/could/can.

[symaa]

Hello,

I am revising my grammar lessons "Modals" in English grammar in use, advanced, I really found it very detailed and quite complicated and I do not know if it is suitable to my level:-?, I have the intermediate one but it is superficial.


I did not see the difference between these two rules:

-We use​

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may/might/could (not 'can') + have + past participle to say it is possible that something happened in the past.

-We use might/could (not 'may' or 'can') + have + past participle to say that something was possible in the past, but we know that it did not in fact happen.

Could you please tell me what are the differences between these two examples?

Perhaps it is better to have another edition, because there are many rules that extremely confuse me:-(.
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[Pokemon]

Estimate: He may/might/could have been taken for an English teacher. (I'm not sure he was, but it's quite possible)

Unreality: He might/could have been taken for an English teacher.
(I don't care whether he was or he wasn't. All I want to say is his English was good enough to take him for an English teacher).

 

[symaa]

Assessment: He may/might/could have been taken for an English teacher. (I'm not sure he was, but it's quite possible)

Unreality: He might/could have been taken for an English teacher.
(I know he wasn't, but it was quite possible).

Thank you very much teacher for your answer.

I wonder if English grammar in use, advanced is suitable to me or I
should download another edition .What do you think?


Respectfully yours,

 

[Pokemon]

Who's the author? M.Hewings?

 

[symaa]

Who's the author? M.Hewings?

Yes, you are right teacher.:up:

 

[Pokemon]

Good book. But be careful, sometimes he doesn't mark variants that are not regarded as standard.

 

[symaa]

Good book. But be careful, sometimes he doesn't mark variants that are not regarded as standard.

Thank you again teacher, but what do you advice me as a student? should I still depend on this book? or should I find another edition?:-|
Regards

 

[Pokemon]

Thank you again teacher, but what do you advice me as a student? should I still depend on this book? or should I find another edition?:-|
Regards

There is no such thing as an ideal textbook. If you're an advanced student, use different grammars. Compare what they write, pick up what seems to you good, work out your own concept.

 

[symaa]

There is no such thing as an ideal textbook. If you're an advanced student, use different grammars. Compare what they write, pick up what seems to you good, work out your own concept.

Yes, that's what I have done.Thank you again and again for your advice.I have many grammar books but some of them do not reat modals.

All the best for you teacher,:up:

 

[symaa]

Re: Might/could.

Hi, it is me again,

1 He might have taken the bus.(Maby he took it , maby he did no)
2 He could have taken thebus.(Strong possibility, he was able to take the bus but he didn't ).Is this justification is correct? As I see there is no difference between the first and the second, you can either use might or could without any change of the meaning, but my teacher said that there is a slight difference between them .
All the best

 

[Pokemon]

Re: Might/could.

Hi, it is me again,

1 He might have taken the bus.(Maby he took it , maby he did no)
2 He could have taken thebus.(Strong possibility, he was able to take the bus but he didn't ).Is this justification is correct? As I see there is no difference between the first and the second, you can either use might or could without any change of the meaning, but my teacher said that there is a slight difference between them .
All the best

a) Unreality (reproach)
- Why was he late?
- His car had broken down.
- So what? He might/could have taken a taxi.

Unreality (missed opportunity)
- My car broke down and I had to walk all the way down here.
- You could have taken a taxi.

b) supposition mixed with doubt (epistemic modality):
- It's over midnight, and he isn't here yet. What's the matter.
- His car might / could have broken down.

 

[symaa]

Re: Might/could.

a) Unreality (reproach)
- Why was he late?
- His car had broken down.
- So what? He might/could have taken a taxi.So we can use "might" and "could" in this case interchangeably .
Unreality (missed opportunity)
- My car broke down and I had to walk all the way down here.
- You could have taken a taxi.

b) supposition mixed with doubt (epistemic modality):
- It's over midnight, and he isn't here yet. What's the matter.
- His car might / could have broken down.

Nice examples:up:, I do not know how sould I thank you for you help my teacher.

Thank you again.

I wish you all the best,