New2grammar  +  530478 Sat, 21 Jun 08 09:30 AM 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. New2grammar Joined on Tue, Nov 21 2006 Veteran Member 7,676 Who wants to go sailing around the world with me? Modals

	26TMNTJG2PG  +  530494 Sat, 21 Jun 08 10:36 AM 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. 26TMNTJG2PG Joined on Wed, Apr 23 2008 Full Member 266

	RonBee  +  530509 Sat, 21 Jun 08 12:14 PM 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. RonBee Joined on Sat, Jun 21 2008 Charlotte, North Carolina New Member 26