Tony Mountifield (Email Removed) writes: John Lawler (Email Removed) writes: 3) *He doesn't may/can be home. I wondered if the * was put in anticipating the insertion of a footnote which was then forgotten, explaining that may and can

Enrico C (Email Removed) writes: Einde O'Callaghan writes: "May" is used for this meaning too, just as it also expresses possibility. It is considered slightly more formal. Anyway, when I used *can* as less formal *may*, some native

What books would you recommend to learn more about the modal verbs? I've written here, on alt.english.usage and on uk.culture.language.english; ... I would need some reliable reference based on grammar (correct usage), and actual current usage

And I do not nor care to use chopsticks. Something about the syntax of this sentence makes my head hurt. I think the "nor" is trying to join two objects of different kinds - a modal auxiliary ("do not") and an ordinary verb

Could someone please help a layman with these two grammar ... the seaside', but how can I explain why it's wrong? First, "might" is a modal auxiliary here and "to" never follows a modal auxiliary. Second, the grammar of

lee (Email Removed) wrote on 22 Nov 2003: Could someone please help a layman with these two grammar issues that a foreign friend has asked me about: "After ... know that the above should read, 'I might go to the seaside', but how can