He may/might/could well study...

hirashin

Sempai

Donor

8 Apr 2004

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• 11 Oct 2017

• #1

Dear native speakers of English,
please help me.
Which would be used?
(a) He may well study all night long.
(b) He might well study all night long.
(c) He could well study all night long.
(d) He will probably study all night long.
(e) It's probable that he will study all night long.

Thanks in advance.
Hirashin

 

diligentcircle

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21 Jun 2017

703

97

• 11 Oct 2017

• #2

I've only heard D and E, but I've heard and used some expressions slightly different to A-C:

"He may very well study all night long."
"He might very well study all night long."
"He could very well study all night long."

I don't know if it's an actual error or just a dialectal thing.

 

hirashin

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8 Apr 2004

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• 11 Oct 2017

• Thread starter
• #3

Thanks for the help, Julimaruchan.

Is there a difference in meaning between the three sentences you've given?

 

diligentcircle

Sempai

21 Jun 2017

703

97

• 11 Oct 2017

• #4

They're all the same. They are neutral as to the probability of him studying all night long.

 

hirashin

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8 Apr 2004

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• 11 Oct 2017

• Thread starter
• #5

Thanks for the help, Julimaruchan.