[VA] Short & Sweet Math Challenge #22: April 1st, 2018 Spring Special

[Ángel Martin]

(04-04-2018 12:08 AM)Valentin Albillo Wrote:  

Mike (Stgt) Wrote:"At one's ease"? So the following determinations are not too serious? Please explain.
...
"We may say", why not "we say"?

Please, Mike (Stgt), English is not my native language and I'm doing what I can with it so please cut me some slack, will you ?

The use of "may" in this very sentence is completely appropriate even if you mean it as a certainty. In fact it's a resource used by many native speakers as well , so Valentin is right on target also on the linguistic side.

The error made frequently (usually by non-native speakers) is to interpret language in a literal manner - which it is not, unless of course you're writing a legal text or a technical procedure (and even there it's flexible).

FWIW, this doesn't add value to the contents of the thread (which is a highly enjoyable contribution), but splitting hairs is a nice pastime for some.