Nuâncias entre "may", "might" e "can"

Portuguese translation: acho que você está certo

13:19 May 19, 2009
English to Portuguese translations [Non-PRO]
Linguistics / English
English term or phrase: Nuâncias entre "may", "might" e "can"
Gostaria de deixar esta questão que caiu na prova objetiva de um concurso que prestei neste domingo:

In the phrase “slight adjustments to related definitions may be required.”
(lines 29-30), the fragment “may be required” can be
substituted by

(A) might occasionally be necessary.
(B) should be considered relevant.
(C) will definitely be demanded.
(D) have to be considered.
(E) can be requested.


Apesar do gabarito oficial da prova dizer que a resposta correta é a (E), minha escolha foi a resposta (A). Estou seriamente inclinado a contestar esta questão por ser ambígua. Na prática, qualquer uma das duas pode ser usada. Além disso, existe uma pequena diferença nos significados de "required" e "requested" -- que no meu entendimento são melhor traduzidos como "necessário" e "solicitado".

Poderiam deixar suas opiniões a respeito? Obrigado!
juliohm
Brazil
Local time: 10:31
Portuguese translation:acho que você está certo
Explanation:
:) E "required" nada tem a ver com "requested"

Selected response from:

Clauwolf
Local time: 10:31
Grading comment
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
5acho que você está certo
Clauwolf
5A is the right answer
Ysabel812


  

Answers


8 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
nuâncias entre "may", "might" e "can"
acho que você está certo


Explanation:
:) E "required" nada tem a ver com "requested"



Clauwolf
Local time: 10:31
Native speaker of: Native in PortuguesePortuguese
PRO pts in category: 33
Login to enter a peer comment (or grade)

11 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5
nuâncias entre "may", "might" e "can"
A is the right answer


Explanation:
(I used to teach these modal verbs all the time before becoming a translator). A is definitely the best answer (although I wouldn't have put "occasionally"), while E is incorrect. Another example: "Some assembly may be required" on a furniture box. I don't think you can request that the store do the assembly. It is possible that *you* will have to do the assembly.

I don't believe that "might occasionally" is a good answer, as "may" already indicates a stronger probability than "might," and "might occasionally" even less. When your furniture box says "some assembly may be required," you're pretty sure you'll have to do some assembly.

Hope this helps! Definitely contest the official answer.


In the phrase “slight adjustments to related definitions may be required.”
(lines 29-30), the fragment “may be required” can be
substituted by

(A) might occasionally be necessary.
(B) should be considered relevant.
(C) will definitely be demanded.
(D) have to be considered.
(E) can be requested.


Apesar do gabarito oficial da prova dizer que a resposta correta é a (E), minha escolha foi a resposta (A). Estou seriamente inclinado a conte

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Note added at 28 mins (2009-05-19 13:47:59 GMT)
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This is a good illustration of why I don't like multiple choice exams...however, I've seen worse, and I have no doubt that you are right in going with "A" as the best of a bad lot. Why don't you put this question in the English-to-English language pair so you can get more feedback from native speakers?

Ysabel812
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: Out of the differences among "may", "might" and "can", either one seems to be slightly innapropriate on answers (A) and (E)... but I am certainly inclined to (A) because of the difference between "required" e "requested".

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