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Ask for help > it might be a... (talk about strange objects) + express possibility
it might be a... (talk about strange objects) + express possibility
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moravc
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it might be a... (talk about strange objects) + express possibility
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I am really tired today... Could you please help me how to express possibility? I want to show strange pics or photos with parts of things (a wheel of a car etc). Then I would like to ask: "What might this picture be?..."
Is is ok to say :
http://www.elp.manchester.ac.uk/pub_projects/2000/mmmr7gjw/Images/mexonbike.gif
"It can be a plate with 2 knives."
"It could be a tea-cup."
"Maybe it is a swimming pool."
"It may be a toy."
"It might be a flying saucer."
"It is probably a fountain."
"I am pretty sure it is a Mexican on a bike."
"It must be a Mexican riding a bike!" ...... Sorry, I am stuck...
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14 Aug 2009
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Spagman63
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Then I ask: "What this picture might be?..."
I would say, "What might this picture be? or "What do you think this is?"
Apart from the "It can be....." they all sound good to me. "It can" seems to suggest it could become something else. Like I take a handkerchief and say, "It can be a hat or a scarf or a flower..." The picture can only be one thing-the correct answer. Could is the better choice here.
Those pics are funny, btw. I love to look at them.
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14 Aug 2009
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Ivona
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Ever saw that programme "Guess the gadget" on ... errrr... Discovery, i think? The episodes are great for practising probability/possibility.
Also, you can always play detectives, getting �evidence � from the crime scene and guessing about the criminal or the victim.
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14 Aug 2009
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moravc
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Thanks a lot!
I am still not quite sure about the "can".... I have read it shows the possibility as well... but it sounds strange... you are right, Spagman...
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14 Aug 2009
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Tere-arg
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As far as I know
must 100%
may
could
might
can�t 0%
express different degrees of possibility from the most likely to happen to the least but there are other ways:
It�ll definitely happen. 100%
It is bound to happen.
It�ll probably happen.
It�s likely to happen.
It may/might happen
It�s unlikely to happen
I doubt (if) it�ll happen.
It�s highly unlikely to happen.
It definitely won�t happen. 0%
I hve not seen "can" -positive- for possibility/deduction.
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14 Aug 2009
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serene
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Hi moravc!
I believe we only use may, might or could to express possibility in the sense you have described in your post (=perhaps sth is true). At least that �s what my grammar books say.
Hugs
serene
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14 Aug 2009
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moravc
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oh, I see... :-) I have mixed up my mother tongue with English :-))
I have another question - Is this sentence right?
Can �t it be a screwdriver? = meaning - Is there a slightest possibility... ?
or we can use "can�t" to express "no possibility / probability" at all ?
- It can�t be true. = It ISN�T true. = I don�t believe it�s true !
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14 Aug 2009
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Mar0919
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Dear moravc, I can understand, like you say in your post, that you feel tired, and I want to think that �s the reason. So please don �t take as negative my comment. But I truly feel that if you �re looking for phrases to express FUNNY PICTURES, it �s not nice to use the last two examples, since it gives way to make fun of Mexicans. I think it �s a little rude to use examples like these.
"It can be a plate with 2 knives." "It could be a tea-cup." "Maybe it is a swimming pool." "It may be a toy." "It might be a flying saucer." "It is probably a fountain." "I am pretty sure it is a Mexican on a bike."
"It must be a Mexican riding a bike!" |
15 Aug 2009
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