New2grammar Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
may ,could
The agency will send teams of investigators to farms in both locations this weekend as well as to the pathways from those farms in an attempt to determine where the contamination occurred, he said.
The tomatoes may not have been contaminated on a farm, he stressed; the contamination could have occurred in a packing shed, warehouse, supplier chain or distribution center.
Can I replace may with could here? I know the two modals are different but I'm having difficulty sensing the difference.
Thanks in advance.
The tomatoes may not have been contaminated on a farm, he stressed; the contamination could have occurred in a packing shed, warehouse, supplier chain or distribution center.
Can I replace may with could here? I know the two modals are different but I'm having difficulty sensing the difference.
Thanks in advance.
Top answer
Yes, you can; but in doing so, you have changed an uncertain situation to be a certain situation. This may not be the original intention of the writer.
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Yes, you can; but in doing so, you have changed an uncertain situation to be a certain situation. This may not be the original intention of the writer.
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If you say something could not have happened you are sure it didn't happen. If you say it may not have happened you are not so sure.
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