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Torsten Learning Coach

Joined: 25 Sep 2003 Posts: 14491 Location: EU
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#3 (permalink) Sat Jan 21, 2006 19:09 pm Possibly vs probably |
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| could you set forth the diffference between them? |
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Polska Guest
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#4 (permalink) Sun Jan 22, 2006 2:47 am Can't possibly? |
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Possibly here is a minimizer, not a disjunct, and can take the position after the modal:
I can't possibly give up drinking tea.
Probably as a disjunct cannot hold that position:
I probably can't give up drinking tea. Probably, I can't give up drinking tea. I can't give up drinking tea, probably.
Can't possibly does not mean it is impossible; it just minimizes the effect of the main verb. _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13015
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#5 (permalink) Fri Dec 19, 2008 14:36 pm Can't possibly? |
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Great thanks for explanation. The grammar of disjunct is new for me. Where can I read about disjuncts and see more examples for dicjunct words? thanks in advance :) |
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Feridestg New Member
Joined: 10 Nov 2008 Posts: 3
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#6 (permalink) Sat Dec 20, 2008 1:00 am Can't possibly? |
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. Oh dear, my last post was two years ago. Well, you could start HERE, and you could google 'disjuncts' for more information. . _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13015
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#7 (permalink) Mon Nov 09, 2009 13:56 pm Can't possibly? |
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| oh great! thanks a lot for your direction! it's very helpful for me! |
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Bui Manh Truong New Member

Joined: 04 Nov 2009 Posts: 8 Location: Viet nam
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#8 (permalink) Mon Dec 28, 2009 5:16 am Can't possibly? |
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| It is very helpful. So great. Many thanks. |
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Dieu Chau I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 15 Sep 2009 Posts: 12
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#9 (permalink) Thu Mar 04, 2010 16:57 pm Can't possibly? |
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And... why not "likely"?
I was trying to understand the meaning of "disjuncts" but it is impossible for me!! I've never heard from such thing before... |
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Zule New Member

Joined: 31 Dec 2009 Posts: 4 Location: Cantabria, Spain
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#10 (permalink) Tue Mar 09, 2010 6:14 am Can't possibly? |
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Hi moderators, Mr.Torsten and Mr.Micawber. Actually I am confused about what both of you have replied, Mr .Torsten said can't possibly "It means that it is impossible for the speaker to give up drinking tea" and Mr.Micawber said "Can't possibly does not mean it is impossible". yours sincerely. |
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Mouhannad I'm new here and I like it ;-)

Joined: 07 Jan 2010 Posts: 39 Location: Syria
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#11 (permalink) Tue Mar 09, 2010 6:21 am Can't possibly? |
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As it is used here, as I said, it is a 'minimizer'. It does not literally mean 'impossible', since of course the fellow could give up drinking tea if he tried very hard to do so. The word 'impossibly' does mean 'not possibly', but here the fellow is saying that he really is unwilling to give up tea. _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13015
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#12 (permalink) Sat Apr 03, 2010 8:40 am Can't possibly? |
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| Thanks you very much! |
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Mkostya I'm here quite often ;-)

Joined: 02 Mar 2010 Posts: 113 Location: Haifa
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#13 (permalink) Fri Feb 04, 2011 18:32 pm Can't possibly? |
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| thank Y FOR explanation,but can Y give me much imformation about "disjuncts"......................thanks,,,,,,,,,,,,,, |
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Manukyan New Member
Joined: 29 Oct 2010 Posts: 3
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13015
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| Idiom: hit us like a ton of bricks | at a discount |