We charge 30 dollars for this projector.

[kadioguy]

(In the Toeic listening test)

30. Where's the supervisor who's in charge of this project?

(A) He went to the main office for the afternoon.
(B) In another week or two, at the most.
(C) We charge 30 dollars for this projector.

The given answer is (A).
----------

However, I am wondering in which context we can use (c). I'll make two examples below.

1. We charge 30 dollars for this projector if someone would like to buy it.

2. We charge 30 dollars for this projector. We are selling it now.

Do they work?

-------
(Audio clip)
https://clyp.it/fk25dxa1

 

[emsr2d2]

Very simply, c) could be the response to "How much do you charge for this projector?" I'm not really sure what you're trying to work out here. Do you think that "We charge 30 dollars for this projector" isn't a grammatical sentence?

Your first suggested sentence doesn't make much sense. You don't charge an amount of money for something only if/when someone wants to buy it. That's the price whether someone wants it or not. Your second suggestion is OK but, again, why would you need to specify that you are selling something when saying that you charge XXX dollars for it makes it clear that you're selling it.

 

[kadioguy]

Very simply, c) could be the response to "How much do you charge for this projector?" I'm not really sure what you're trying to work out here. Do you think that "We charge 30 dollars for this projector" isn't a grammatical sentence?

Thank you for the reply and the question, emsr2d2.

I posted this thread, because I was not sure what "charge" here meant. Does it mean that the speaker is renting out or selling the projector for 30 dollars?

... saying that you charge XXX dollars for it makes it clear that you're selling it.

 

[emsr2d2]

Thank you for the reply and the question, emsr2d2.

I posted this thread, because I was not sure what "charge" here meant. Does it mean that the speaker is renting out or selling the projector for 30 dollars?

Did you look up "charge" (verb) anywhere before asking us?

It's impossible to say for sure whether the person is renting it or selling it, although if they were renting it they would probably add "per hour" or "per day" to the cost.

 

[kadioguy]

Did you look up "charge" (verb) anywhere before asking us?

Yes, I did.
--------
charge
v.
to ask for (a specific amount of money) as a price, rate, or fee

The shop charged $100 for repairs.
The bank charged eight percent interest on the loan.

https://learnersdictionary.com/definition/charge

It's impossible to say for sure whether the person is renting it or selling it, although if they were renting it they would probably add "per hour" or "per day" to the cost.

But you said in post #2,

... why would you need to specify that you are selling something when saying that you charge XXX dollars for it makes it clear that you're selling it.

So I am not sure what your thought exactly is. :-?

 

[kadioguy]

Now I think that I should have asked the question in post #1 in a better way. It should have been something like this:

----------------
We charge 30 dollars for this projector.

Does this sentence mean that we are selling this projector for 30 dollars?
---------------

And the answer would have been "yes", then the thread may have been complete using just two posts!

 

[emsr2d2]

That's probably true!

 

[kadioguy]

And the answer would have been "yes", then the thread may have been complete using just two posts!

Hi, I would like to ask about the writing:

a. ... the thread may have been complete using just two posts!

b. ... the thread may have been complete in just two posts!

Can I use either one?

 

[emsr2d2]

"using" isn't wrong but "in" is much more natural.

I'd use "might" or "could" instead of "may". I'd use "have been completed".

 

[GoesStation]

I'd use "might" … instead of "may".

Only "might" works for me, but younger native speakers have largely lost the distinction between the two forms. To me, "might" is the past form. I'd say something may be finished or might have been finished.

 

[kadioguy]

I'd use "might" or "could" instead of "may".

To me, "might" is the past form. I'd say something may be finished or might have been finished.

Thank you both.

And please look at the following: (I think I used the word in the green part way while you would use it in the red part way.)
--------
May

There is no past tense, but may have followed by a past participle can be used for talking about past possibilities:

She may have changed her mind and decided not to come.

When indirect speech is introduced by a verb in the past tense, might is used as the past tense of may:

I asked if I might see the paintings.

https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/may_1

See also "might "
https://www.macmillandictionary.com/dictionary/british/might_1
------------

 

[emsr2d2]

This all depends on whether one accepts "may" as an alternative to "might". Some people, including me, use "may" for permission and "might" for possibility.

 

[kadioguy]

This all depends on whether one accepts "may" as an alternative to "might". Some people, including me, use "may" for permission and "might" for possibility.

For me, use "may" for permission, and both "may" and "might" for possibility. I use "may" for a good possibility, and "might" for a remote possibility.

 

[Tarheel]

It may rain today. - There's a good chance it will rain.
It might rain today. - It could rain, but it's not likely.

Is that what you mean?

 

[kadioguy]

It may rain today. - There's a good chance it will rain.
It might rain today. - It could rain, but it's not likely.

Is that what you mean?

Yes, I use the two words that way. :up: