Is “be” really required after “may” in this sentence? [closed]

Multi tool use
Multi tool use





.everyoneloves__top-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__mid-leaderboard:empty,.everyoneloves__bot-mid-leaderboard:empty{ margin-bottom:0;
}







-1















I read a sentence in "The Hindu" which was:




Age maybe has slowed down MT Vasudevan Nair but his creativity remains undiminished.




I think it is an egregious error to use may be this style. Shouldn't there be just "may" before "slowed down"?










share|improve this question













closed as off-topic by Jason Bassford, Chappo, JJJ, jimm101, Mark Beadles May 17 at 14:36


This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:


  • "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Chappo, JJJ

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.












  • 1





    It is needed if you wish to phrase the sentence like that. If you want to get rid of the 'be', 'has' must be converted to 'have'.

    – Deonyi
    May 14 at 13:53











  • The single-word form maybe is effectively an adverbial element (either modifying the specific verb to slow down, or a "sentence adverb" modifying the entire assertion up to but here). But may is a kind of degenerate "modal" verb itself, so it requires an [unmarked] infinitive verb form, as in The groom may kiss the bride (as opposed to The groom kisses the bride).

    – FumbleFingers
    May 14 at 14:10






  • 2





    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it's a cross-post of the identical question at ELL.

    – Jason Bassford
    May 14 at 17:04


















-1















I read a sentence in "The Hindu" which was:




Age maybe has slowed down MT Vasudevan Nair but his creativity remains undiminished.




I think it is an egregious error to use may be this style. Shouldn't there be just "may" before "slowed down"?










share|improve this question













closed as off-topic by Jason Bassford, Chappo, JJJ, jimm101, Mark Beadles May 17 at 14:36


This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:


  • "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Chappo, JJJ

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.












  • 1





    It is needed if you wish to phrase the sentence like that. If you want to get rid of the 'be', 'has' must be converted to 'have'.

    – Deonyi
    May 14 at 13:53











  • The single-word form maybe is effectively an adverbial element (either modifying the specific verb to slow down, or a "sentence adverb" modifying the entire assertion up to but here). But may is a kind of degenerate "modal" verb itself, so it requires an [unmarked] infinitive verb form, as in The groom may kiss the bride (as opposed to The groom kisses the bride).

    – FumbleFingers
    May 14 at 14:10






  • 2





    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it's a cross-post of the identical question at ELL.

    – Jason Bassford
    May 14 at 17:04














-1












-1








-1


1






I read a sentence in "The Hindu" which was:




Age maybe has slowed down MT Vasudevan Nair but his creativity remains undiminished.




I think it is an egregious error to use may be this style. Shouldn't there be just "may" before "slowed down"?










share|improve this question














I read a sentence in "The Hindu" which was:




Age maybe has slowed down MT Vasudevan Nair but his creativity remains undiminished.




I think it is an egregious error to use may be this style. Shouldn't there be just "may" before "slowed down"?







grammar






share|improve this question













share|improve this question











share|improve this question




share|improve this question










asked May 14 at 13:39









KelvinKelvin

11




11




closed as off-topic by Jason Bassford, Chappo, JJJ, jimm101, Mark Beadles May 17 at 14:36


This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:


  • "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Chappo, JJJ

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.







closed as off-topic by Jason Bassford, Chappo, JJJ, jimm101, Mark Beadles May 17 at 14:36


This question appears to be off-topic. The users who voted to close gave this specific reason:


  • "Please include the research you’ve done, or consider if your question suits our English Language Learners site better. Questions that can be answered using commonly-available references are off-topic." – Chappo, JJJ

If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.








  • 1





    It is needed if you wish to phrase the sentence like that. If you want to get rid of the 'be', 'has' must be converted to 'have'.

    – Deonyi
    May 14 at 13:53











  • The single-word form maybe is effectively an adverbial element (either modifying the specific verb to slow down, or a "sentence adverb" modifying the entire assertion up to but here). But may is a kind of degenerate "modal" verb itself, so it requires an [unmarked] infinitive verb form, as in The groom may kiss the bride (as opposed to The groom kisses the bride).

    – FumbleFingers
    May 14 at 14:10






  • 2





    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it's a cross-post of the identical question at ELL.

    – Jason Bassford
    May 14 at 17:04














  • 1





    It is needed if you wish to phrase the sentence like that. If you want to get rid of the 'be', 'has' must be converted to 'have'.

    – Deonyi
    May 14 at 13:53











  • The single-word form maybe is effectively an adverbial element (either modifying the specific verb to slow down, or a "sentence adverb" modifying the entire assertion up to but here). But may is a kind of degenerate "modal" verb itself, so it requires an [unmarked] infinitive verb form, as in The groom may kiss the bride (as opposed to The groom kisses the bride).

    – FumbleFingers
    May 14 at 14:10






  • 2





    I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it's a cross-post of the identical question at ELL.

    – Jason Bassford
    May 14 at 17:04








1




1





It is needed if you wish to phrase the sentence like that. If you want to get rid of the 'be', 'has' must be converted to 'have'.

– Deonyi
May 14 at 13:53





It is needed if you wish to phrase the sentence like that. If you want to get rid of the 'be', 'has' must be converted to 'have'.

– Deonyi
May 14 at 13:53













The single-word form maybe is effectively an adverbial element (either modifying the specific verb to slow down, or a "sentence adverb" modifying the entire assertion up to but here). But may is a kind of degenerate "modal" verb itself, so it requires an [unmarked] infinitive verb form, as in The groom may kiss the bride (as opposed to The groom kisses the bride).

– FumbleFingers
May 14 at 14:10





The single-word form maybe is effectively an adverbial element (either modifying the specific verb to slow down, or a "sentence adverb" modifying the entire assertion up to but here). But may is a kind of degenerate "modal" verb itself, so it requires an [unmarked] infinitive verb form, as in The groom may kiss the bride (as opposed to The groom kisses the bride).

– FumbleFingers
May 14 at 14:10




2




2





I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it's a cross-post of the identical question at ELL.

– Jason Bassford
May 14 at 17:04





I'm voting to close this question as off-topic because it's a cross-post of the identical question at ELL.

– Jason Bassford
May 14 at 17:04










2 Answers
2






active

oldest

votes


















1














Maybe is fine.



It functions as an adverb meaning "possibly" and modifies the verb phrase "has slowed down." I can't speak for Indian English, but in American English "maybe" immediately preceding a verb would hit a lower register than "maybe" at the head of a clause. (Compare: "Maybe age has slowed down ...")



Here are two other examples found through the Corpus of Contemporary American English out of several dozen. "Maybe" preceding a verb crops up in more speech than writing (most results involve live news programs):




("Rebel on the Edge," Time, 1/23/2006.) He is the world's best ski racer, but whatever the result, he laughs it off and maybe has a beer afterward.



("United Shades of America: Off the Grid," CNN, 5/22/2016.) And so what would you say to somebody whose sitting at home right now, who maybe has just seen this for the first time and is going huh?







share|improve this answer































    0














    It's poor (or at least very informal). I would prefer something like:




    Age has perhaps slowed down...




    I'd prefer that over "Age may have slowed down..." also.






    share|improve this answer






























      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes








      2 Answers
      2






      active

      oldest

      votes









      active

      oldest

      votes






      active

      oldest

      votes









      1














      Maybe is fine.



      It functions as an adverb meaning "possibly" and modifies the verb phrase "has slowed down." I can't speak for Indian English, but in American English "maybe" immediately preceding a verb would hit a lower register than "maybe" at the head of a clause. (Compare: "Maybe age has slowed down ...")



      Here are two other examples found through the Corpus of Contemporary American English out of several dozen. "Maybe" preceding a verb crops up in more speech than writing (most results involve live news programs):




      ("Rebel on the Edge," Time, 1/23/2006.) He is the world's best ski racer, but whatever the result, he laughs it off and maybe has a beer afterward.



      ("United Shades of America: Off the Grid," CNN, 5/22/2016.) And so what would you say to somebody whose sitting at home right now, who maybe has just seen this for the first time and is going huh?







      share|improve this answer




























        1














        Maybe is fine.



        It functions as an adverb meaning "possibly" and modifies the verb phrase "has slowed down." I can't speak for Indian English, but in American English "maybe" immediately preceding a verb would hit a lower register than "maybe" at the head of a clause. (Compare: "Maybe age has slowed down ...")



        Here are two other examples found through the Corpus of Contemporary American English out of several dozen. "Maybe" preceding a verb crops up in more speech than writing (most results involve live news programs):




        ("Rebel on the Edge," Time, 1/23/2006.) He is the world's best ski racer, but whatever the result, he laughs it off and maybe has a beer afterward.



        ("United Shades of America: Off the Grid," CNN, 5/22/2016.) And so what would you say to somebody whose sitting at home right now, who maybe has just seen this for the first time and is going huh?







        share|improve this answer


























          1












          1








          1







          Maybe is fine.



          It functions as an adverb meaning "possibly" and modifies the verb phrase "has slowed down." I can't speak for Indian English, but in American English "maybe" immediately preceding a verb would hit a lower register than "maybe" at the head of a clause. (Compare: "Maybe age has slowed down ...")



          Here are two other examples found through the Corpus of Contemporary American English out of several dozen. "Maybe" preceding a verb crops up in more speech than writing (most results involve live news programs):




          ("Rebel on the Edge," Time, 1/23/2006.) He is the world's best ski racer, but whatever the result, he laughs it off and maybe has a beer afterward.



          ("United Shades of America: Off the Grid," CNN, 5/22/2016.) And so what would you say to somebody whose sitting at home right now, who maybe has just seen this for the first time and is going huh?







          share|improve this answer













          Maybe is fine.



          It functions as an adverb meaning "possibly" and modifies the verb phrase "has slowed down." I can't speak for Indian English, but in American English "maybe" immediately preceding a verb would hit a lower register than "maybe" at the head of a clause. (Compare: "Maybe age has slowed down ...")



          Here are two other examples found through the Corpus of Contemporary American English out of several dozen. "Maybe" preceding a verb crops up in more speech than writing (most results involve live news programs):




          ("Rebel on the Edge," Time, 1/23/2006.) He is the world's best ski racer, but whatever the result, he laughs it off and maybe has a beer afterward.



          ("United Shades of America: Off the Grid," CNN, 5/22/2016.) And so what would you say to somebody whose sitting at home right now, who maybe has just seen this for the first time and is going huh?








          share|improve this answer












          share|improve this answer



          share|improve this answer










          answered May 14 at 14:07









          TaliesinMerlinTaliesinMerlin

          10.6k2042




          10.6k2042

























              0














              It's poor (or at least very informal). I would prefer something like:




              Age has perhaps slowed down...




              I'd prefer that over "Age may have slowed down..." also.






              share|improve this answer




























                0














                It's poor (or at least very informal). I would prefer something like:




                Age has perhaps slowed down...




                I'd prefer that over "Age may have slowed down..." also.






                share|improve this answer


























                  0












                  0








                  0







                  It's poor (or at least very informal). I would prefer something like:




                  Age has perhaps slowed down...




                  I'd prefer that over "Age may have slowed down..." also.






                  share|improve this answer













                  It's poor (or at least very informal). I would prefer something like:




                  Age has perhaps slowed down...




                  I'd prefer that over "Age may have slowed down..." also.







                  share|improve this answer












                  share|improve this answer



                  share|improve this answer










                  answered May 14 at 14:01









                  DeliusDelius

                  713




                  713















                      fAuEk2GArWrgz,UJgoAZzml6JW poYY
                      UmTa,mBl8d jJPAjxW H8 HcPGf B iwps5urIz51

                      Popular posts from this blog

                      Bruad Bilen | Luke uk diar | NawigatsjuunCommonskategorii: BruadCommonskategorii: RunstükenWikiquote: Bruad

                      Færeyskur hestur Heimild | Tengill | Tilvísanir | LeiðsagnarvalRossið - síða um færeyska hrossið á færeyskuGott ár hjá færeyska hestinum

                      Chléb Obsah Etymologie | Pojmy při krájení bochníku nebo pecnu chleba | Receptura a druhy | Typy českého chleba | Kvalita chleba v České republice | Cena chleba | Konzumace | Postup výroby | Odkazy | Navigační menuDostupné onlineKdo si mastí kapsu na chlebu? Pekaři to nejsouVývoj spotřebitelských cen – Český statistický úřadDostupné onlineJak se co dělá: Chleba4008364-08669