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Is this sentence acceptable?

 
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www0935



Joined: 14 Apr 2008
Posts: 173
PostPosted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 6:28 am    Post subject: Is this sentence acceptable? Reply with quote
Please help check out the following sentence. Many thanks.

"Maybe I am being considered for promotion." Can I put it this way,

"I may be being considered for promotion"?

If possible, tell me the reason please.
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m_prime



Joined: 28 Dec 2008
Posts: 52
Location: Taiyuan, Shanxi, China
PostPosted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 4:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote
Both sentences are acceptable but might be used in slightly different situations.

Quote:
Maybe I am being considered for promotion.


This is is the slightly more speculative (not really sure) of the two, the speaker is not expecting to be promoted. Perhaps you might use it in a sentence like this.

"I wonder why the boss is being really nice to me, maybe I am being considered for promotion?"

Quote:
I may be being considered for promotion


Is slightly more definite, the speaker believes he deserves to or should be promoted but is still not sure. You might use it like this.

"With all the money I have saved the company lately, I may be being considered for promotion".

The context will determine which sentence would be most appropriate but in some circumstances either sentence could be used.
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