2015-08-12
1006
Note the following set phrases with can: a) She can't help crying.
He couldn't help laughing.
/ can't help doing means не могу удержаться от... or не могу не делать (чего-то).
b) I can't but ask him about it. They couldn't but refuse him.
/ can't but do something means {мне) ничего другого не оста ется, как....
c) Не can't possibly do it.
I couldn't possibly refuse him.
I can't (couldn't) possibly do means просто не могу (не мог) сделать....
May
May has the following meanings: 1) supposition implying uncertainty,
e.g. He may be busy getting ready for his trip.
In Russian this meaning is generally rendered by means of the modal adverbs возможно and может быть.
the verb may occurs in affirmative and negative sentences.
e.g. He may be at home.
He may not be at home. (Возможно, что его нет дома. Мо- жет быть, его нет дома.)
may + stative verb = to the present.
e.g. He may be ill.
He may not know about it.
May in combination with the Continuous infinitive of dynamic Verbs refers the action to the present.
e.g. It's too late to phone him now. He may be sleeping.
I never see him about now. For all I know, he may be writing a book.
May + Perfect infinitive = to the past.
e.g. He may have fallen ill.
may + Perfect infinitive = an action begun in the past and continued into the mo ment of speaking. This is usually found with stative verbs.
e.g. He may have been at home for about two hours.
may + dynamic verb = the Perfect Continuous infinitive is used.
e.g. He may have been waiting for us for an hour.
In the meaning of supposition implying uncertainty, the form might em- phasizes the idea of uncertainty. It may be followed by the sim- ple, Continuous or Perfect infinitive.
e.g. He might come soon. He might be ill.
He might be doing his lessons now. He might have spoken to her yesterday.
