It also occurs to me that unclear modals get Americans into trouble quite often. We use "can" when we mean "may," as in "to have permission" or "to be allowed." Hence, the "get away with."
Trouble there, though, is that we also use "may" when we mean "might."
We also move in circles where wording gets all wonky for fun. For example, I've heard you say, "Here I go, being not-helpful!" or other people saying, "Can I be not-helpful?"
There's inaccuracy, playing, and subculture vocab. They tend to work across each other's grains.
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branchandroot
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Date: 2008-08-07 07:25 pm (UTC)Trouble there, though, is that we also use "may" when we mean "might."
Arse.
no subject
Date: 2008-08-07 07:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2008-08-07 07:39 pm (UTC)There's inaccuracy, playing, and subculture vocab. They tend to work across each other's grains.