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Thread: ...а может и выть, и нет

  1. August 20th, 2014, 11:34 PM #1
    George1992
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    ...а может и выть, и нет

    Hi!

    Would you help me with the highlited part of the sentence? I have no idea how to translate it.

    Возможно, ты зашёл на наш сайт случайно, а может и выть, и нет.
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  2. August 21st, 2014, 12:21 AM #2
    Throbert McGee
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    I would assume that "выть" is a typo for "быть", in which case I'd translate the highlighted part as "which may or may not be true."

    If "выть" was the intended spelling, however, then it could be translated as "...and one might even howl, and not," but it sounds rather nonsensical.
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  3. August 21st, 2014, 03:20 AM #3
    maxmixiv
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    Correct spelling is indeed "а может быть и нет" which means "а может быть и не случайно".
    "Быть" can be omitted: "а может и нет".

    может , может быть are illustrated well in these lyrics:
    Детские песенки «А может быть ворона» - текст и слова песни в караоке на karaoke.ru
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    "Невозможно передать смысл иностранной фразы, не разрушив при этом её первоначальную структуру."
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  4. August 21st, 2014, 04:43 AM #4
    Lampada
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    Quote Originally Posted by maxmixiv View Post
    ...может , может быть are illustrated well in these lyrics:
    Детские песенки «А может быть ворона» - текст и слова песни в караоке на karaoke.ru
    "...Важно, чтобы форум оставался местом, объединяющим людей, для которых интересны русский язык и культура. ..." - MasterАdmin (из переписки)


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  5. August 21st, 2014, 01:22 PM #5
    bytemare
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    Quote Originally Posted by George1992 View Post
    Hi!

    Would you help me with the highlited part of the sentence? I have no idea how to translate it.

    Возможно, ты зашёл на наш сайт случайно, а может и выть, и нет.
    "... but maybe not."
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  6. August 21st, 2014, 05:46 PM #6
    George1992
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    Thank you!

    You are right. It was a typo and made me laugh when reading the whole sentence again
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  7. August 21st, 2014, 05:52 PM #7
    George1992
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    I hear that "может быть" is also phrase meaning "maybe", "probably". Is that right? Could you tell me a sentence or some sentences from everyday speech with this phrase?
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  8. August 21st, 2014, 05:56 PM #8
    iCake
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    Yes, может быть is maybe, probably.

    - Я не могу найти ключи.
    - Может быть ты их на работе оставил?

    - Давай куда-нибудь сходим, только я не знаю куда именно.
    - Может быть сходим в кино?
    George1992 likes this.
    I do not claim that my opinion is absolutely true.
    If you've spotted any mistake in my English, please, correct it. I want to be aware of any mistakes to efficiently eliminate them before they become a habit.
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