Re: Grammar - Can

scott wrote:


> I'm starting to translate the New McGuffey First Reader. I have
> a question about the word can.
Ho! McGuffey calls many questions on my side too. Sometimes I fail to
understand the precise meaning of short sentences. E.g. "The dog ran". Does
it mean the same as "The dog was running to and fro"? Or is it "The dog has
run away"? It's difficult to figure out without additional time markers
(IIRC, Past Simple screeve should be used only when there is a definite time
marker and the period of time is completed).

Or what does the phrase "See the man!" mean? I've got at least two variants
of interpretation: "Behold, here is that man!" or "Have a look at that man!"

-- Yitzik, a poor foreigner

Replies