Carole,

 

That works for me.  I had overlooked the deontic/epistemic contrast in
modals.  Your epistemic reading fits.

 

Herb

 

From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
[mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Carole Hurlbut
Sent: 2008-02-16 11:24
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: May and might

 

My interpretation deals with the probability involved. May would yield a
stronger probability while might would express more doubt.

 

Carole Hurlbut

	----- Original Message ----- 

	From: Jane Saral <mailto:[log in to unmask]>  

	To: [log in to unmask] 

	Sent: Saturday, February 16, 2008 9:59 AM

	Subject: May and might

	 

	In this morning's Atlanta Journal Costitution is the following
head and subhead:

	 

	Study: Slow decisions hurt help for Marines

	Tougher truck may have saved troops

	 

	I would say that the word might should have been used, since
they were not saved.  May seems to me appropriate only if they were
saved and one is speculating as to why.

	 

	Is that a correct assumption?  And could someone explain the
differences between the two forms?

	 

	Jane Saral

	To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web
interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select
"Join or leave the list" 

	Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ 

To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web
interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select
"Join or leave the list" 

Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ 


To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at:
     http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html
and select "Join or leave the list"

Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/