3

He can play. = He is able to play.

He cannot play. = He is unable to play.

He must not play. = He is forbidden to play. He is prohibited from playing.

He must play. = He is compelled/forced/obliged to play. He has to play.

He should play. = He is advised to play. or He is likely/expected/supposed to play. It is probable that he will.

He may play. = He is allowed to play. or He is ??? to play. It is possible that he will.

Is there an ordinary verb, an adjective, or a past participle, which can replace 'may/might' in a sentence that has a personal noun or pronoun, and not the preparatory 'it' as subject?

user58319
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  • 'He is uncertain to play' goes beyond 'It is possible that he will play' to 'It is fairly unlikely that he will play'. 'He's a possible' doubtless uses 'possible' nounally. – Edwin Ashworth Dec 18 '20 at 15:56
  • Depending on context, you might get away with “he is available to play”, ie there is nothing to prevent him playing. – pbasdf Dec 18 '20 at 16:54
  • poised, allowable/permissed, "within possibility", conceivable, prospective – 11qq00 Sep 23 '21 at 15:15
  • readi-able, prepared, readied, ready, preparable, doable – 11qq00 Sep 23 '21 at 15:56

2 Answers2

2
  • He is liable to play.

(OALD) liable to do something — likely to do something

This dictionary adds the word "probable" to the definition of "liable" (which is not yet "possible" but is nevertheless close in meaning).

probable, likely, or capable
It's liable to happen soon

LPH
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  • I gave up because I couldn't think of a decent answer. – Edwin Ashworth Dec 18 '20 at 16:48
  • @EdwinAshworth: ... which is why this website exists, right? To try and give answers to questions whose answers are not easily found in reference books... – user58319 Sep 17 '21 at 20:56
  • @user58319 The comment is under the answer, not the question. 'Liable' talks about probability, not possibility (though admittedly the question becomes less clear in the 5th stanza). – Edwin Ashworth Sep 18 '21 at 11:46
0

He may play. = He is unsure about playing / to play

(or We are unsure about his playing)

There are always politicians who try to win through violence what they are unsure to win through civilised politicking. West Africa, Issues 4335-4365 p.39

Party leaders want to maximize votes when they are unsure about winning, but at some British elections in this period the Conservatives were certain to win anyway. Patrick Dunleavy; Democracy, Bureaucracy and Public Choice p.105

DjinTonic
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