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Latest post Mon, Oct 2 2006 10:03 AM by nona the brit. 3 replies.
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Lcchang  +  272439 Tue, 26 Sep 06 11:43 AM

I can't remember where that file might be, so may you help me look for it?

To get to our offices, you must take Fontaine Voulevard north and should turn left at Kennedy Road, where you may see our building.

We can't believe that our new computer system, which must be working perfectly, is already crashing and that we might be losing lots of data.

The answer key says the underlined words to the above sentences are incorrect. Can you help me correct them?

LC

Joined on Mon, Feb 27 2006
Northern Taiwan
Contributing Member 1,078
Life will never end.
milky  +  272449 Tue, 26 Sep 06 12:00 PM
 Lcchang wrote:

I can't remember where that file might be, so may you help me look for it?

Use might, will, can, could.

To get to our offices, you must take Fontaine Voulevard north and should turn left at Kennedy Road, where you may see our building.

Use "will". It's strange to suggest that the person may see the buliding. You assume they will.

We can't believe that our new computer system, which must be working perfectly, is already crashing and that we might be losing lots of data.

That's correct, but I would question the meaning of "must be working" there. If it means "it is a rule that it be working...", then "must" is OK. Otherwise, I'd use "should" or "ought" to.

The answer key says the underlined words to the above sentences are incorrect. Can you help me correct them?

LC

Joined on Thu, Jan 15 2004
Senior Member 3,149
Hume said that if we had perfect or complete descriptive knowledge of reality, we could not, by reasoning, derive a single valid "ought".
Lcchang  +  275243 Mon, 02 Oct 06 09:35 AM

One more question here please.

We oftern say "May I help you?", but why can't we say "May you help me?" Please advsie.

LC

nona the brit  +  275250 Mon, 02 Oct 06 10:03 AM
You say 'may' when you are asking permission to do something. You can't ask permission for them to do something for you.
Joined on Wed, Sep 22 2004
England
Veteran Member 11,713
The name says it all.
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