The English Words of the Day/Las palabras en inglés del día: May, Might (poder)

Question

May y Might son modales que se utilizan para expresar permiso y posibilidad.

Ahora tenemos un corrector oficial para el español.

Él es Nelson_rafael - por favor darle la bienvenida y hacer las correcciones que él sugiere - Gracias.

Como hay muchas personas en este sitio quienes hablan inglés como su primer idioma, entonces siéntanse libre para ayudarse mutuamente.

Las directrices:

Una frase debe tener por lo menos 4 palabras.

Limita tus respuestas a 4 frases o menos.

No copies directamente tu respuesta del traductor.

No utilices letras de canciones o frases que no son fácilmente traducidas al inglés.

No copies y pegues de un libro o de otra fuente directamente.

Por favor utiliza tus propias palabras.

A cada miembro se le permite solo una respuesta.

Incluye tu respuesta en inglés, así como en español.

In English:

The English Words of the Day/Las palabras en inglés del día: May, Might (poder)

We now have an official checker for Spanish.

He is Nelson_rafael - please welcome him and make the corrections that he suggests – Thank you.

As we have many native English speakers please feel free to help one another.

Guidelines:

A sentence must have at least 4 words.

Limit your answer to 4 sentences or less.

Do not copy your answer directly from the translator.

Do not use song lyrics or phrases that are not easily translated to English.

Do not directly copy and paste from a book or other source.

Use your own words, please.

A member is allowed one answer.

Include the English, as well as the Spanish, in your answer.

Examples:

May I leave work early today?

¿Puedo dejar el trabajo temprano hoy?

I might leave work early today.

Yo podría salir temprano del trabajo hoy.

This was the previous challenge.

Is the difference between 'may' and 'might' the same as 'day' and 'night'? :-) - 007c5fc1, Mar 31, 2014

If it is amiga I've been under a misaprehension for a long time. :) - ian-hill, Mar 31, 2014

So I have to now call you Maggy Might , not Maggy May , but if Maggy might , wouldn't Maggy may also ? - ray76, Apr 1, 2014

Hola Ian...xo - rac1, Apr 1, 2014

Answer 1

Podría ser vendiendo mi finca muy pronto porque me quiero mover mas cerca del lago

I might be selling my farm soon because I want to move closer to the lake.

Closer than this? Prepare to get wet! :)) - Noetol, Mar 31, 2014

haha...no, this is where I would like to be...especially at sunrise. :-) - 007c5fc1, Mar 31, 2014

That is awesome,may I sit with you ? - heliotropeman, Apr 1, 2014

Let's have coffee in the morning at your new place. :) - rac1, Apr 1, 2014

Podría estar vendiendo.... más cerca... :) - nelson_rafael, Apr 1, 2014

:) - ian-hill, Apr 1, 2014

Margherite, I'll send you apm, I think you would love the Swedish lakes.. - annierats, Apr 1, 2014

Answer 2

Es possible que podría participar en la palabra del día. Alguno día. It's possible I may participate in " The word of the day".Some day.

Let's hope it's soon! :)) - Noetol, Mar 31, 2014

The invisible man :-) - 007c5fc1, Mar 31, 2014

It's the dark side talking. - rac1, Apr 1, 2014

ES posible que pueda participar :) - nelson_rafael, Apr 1, 2014

I could be completely wrong here mate so tell me if I am , but aren't you supposed to have one of those computer thingies , or is it a radio watsisit - ray76, Apr 1, 2014

That would help Ray :) - ian-hill, Apr 1, 2014

Te esperamos. - annierats, Apr 1, 2014

Answer 3

No puedo creer que un tal amor pueda existír en el mundo.

I can't believe that such love can exist in the world.

I don't either... I think this must be photoshopped. - 007c5fc1, Mar 31, 2014

No, he's telling him," I'll make this quick". - heliotropeman, Mar 31, 2014

...."such love".... Hola Porcu. :) - rac1, Apr 1, 2014

:) - nelson_rafael, Apr 1, 2014

Thanks Rac - porcupine7, Apr 1, 2014

Gracias amigos - porcupine7, Apr 1, 2014

:) - ian-hill, Apr 1, 2014

Nice, Porcu. - annierats, Apr 1, 2014

Answer 4

Aúnque el Todopoderoso tiene todo el poder del mundo no puede enviar ni un texto.Solo escribe en piedra y hoy en día este método tarda desmasiado tiempo.

Although the Almighty has all the power in the World he can't manage to send as much as a text. He only writes in stone and this method takes too long nowadays.

Thank goodness we don't have to be talented chisellers to be able to chat :-) - 007c5fc1, Mar 31, 2014

:) - nelson_rafael, Apr 1, 2014

:) - ian-hill, Apr 1, 2014

I have known a few talented "chisellers " in my time. - ray76, Apr 1, 2014

Answer 5

¿Por qué es que algunas personas siempre quieren mostrar su poderío?

Pueden recibir más amor con la consideración.

Why do some people always want to show their power ?

They may receive more love with lovingkindnes.

You may very well think that

An interesting link please watch especially if learning English

That's a good question. I've noticed that many people who are given a little 'authority' always seem to go on a power trip and stress that authority. - 007c5fc1, Apr 1, 2014

You may very well think that I couldn't possibly comment. - ray76, Apr 1, 2014

:) - nelson_rafael, Apr 1, 2014

Please look at the link below the image. - ray76, Apr 1, 2014

The English in it is impeccable , slightly raunchy but not in bad taste. - ray76, Apr 1, 2014

:) - ian-hill, Apr 1, 2014

Ian that was one of the finest political drama ever out of the UK, do you know that they are now making a copy in the U S with Kevin Spacey playing the Richard Urquhart part ? - ray76, Apr 1, 2014

It is still called the House of Cards. - ray76, Apr 1, 2014

Answer 6

Hay un refrán viejo que dice "la ley del más fuerte".

There is an old saying that says "might makes right".

jaja...happens everyday. - 007c5fc1, Mar 31, 2014

Follow this link for might makes right: http://diccionario.reverso.net/ingles-espanol/might makes right - nelson_rafael, Apr 1, 2014

There are several translations, but I'd go for "La ley del más fuerte" Good one for a discussion and an input to the phrasebook :) - nelson_rafael, Apr 1, 2014

I didn't really research the phrase due to time, but that sounds like a good interpretation! - Noetol, Apr 1, 2014

:) - ian-hill, Apr 1, 2014

Answer 7

May I post an illustration?

¿Puedo publicar una ilustración?

:) - nelson_rafael, Apr 1, 2014

Muchas gracias Nelson. :) - rac1, Apr 1, 2014

Yes you may princesa xx - ian-hill, Apr 1, 2014

Thank you sir Ian. xo - rac1, Apr 1, 2014

Answer 8

May l leave a message?

¿Puedo dejar un mensaje?

Por sopuesto amiga :) - ian-hill, Apr 1, 2014

Answer 9

Hoy en dia, el verbo español 'poder' significa dos verbos en inglés que son 'can' y 'may'. Sin embargo el verbo 'may' es un verbo concheto y pasado de moda. Si quiere parecer natural es mejor que usar el verbo can. Si alguien dice 'may I?' en lugar de 'can I?' es un poco ridiculo.

Nowadays, the spanish verb 'poder' means two verbs in english, 'can' and 'may'. However, the verb 'may' is posh and old fashioned. If you want to sound natural, it's better to use the verb 'can'. If someone says 'May I?' instead of 'Can I? it is a bit ridiculous.

Strictly, the correct english verb to use when asking permission is may, but in my social setting it just sounds odd. - GabriellaMonique, Apr 1, 2014

Yes it does :) Can I leave now? Yes you can but you don't have permission to do so. :) - ian-hill, Apr 1, 2014

My mother-in-law would say ' May I?'' and I asure you that she is not ridicolous. Frightening, yes, but ridicolous, no. - annierats, Apr 1, 2014

Furthermore: 'May I help you@ is polite, '' Can I help you@@ is pushy. Not if you need help, of course, in which case either would be music to you ears. - annierats, Apr 1, 2014

...es mejor que use el verbo.... ridículo* :) - nelson_rafael, Apr 1, 2014

With the words 'can' and 'may', many people, including myself, do not use them in their proper context. 'Can' is for asking if something is possible. 'May' is used for permission. So when someone asks "Can I have another cookie?" this isn't correct. - Ghosthawk, Apr 1, 2014

They are not asking if they physically can have a cookie, they are asking permission for another cookie. So they should use 'may' instead of 'can'. Unfortunately, with all the slang and poor grammar, more and more people make mistakes like this. - Ghosthawk, Apr 1, 2014

Answer 10

Éste podría no ser una sorpresa agradable.

This may not be a pleasant suprise.

:) - this illustrates the confusion about when to use May and when to use Might. We often use May like this. - ian-hill, Apr 1, 2014