Grammar Clinic

May

may tinker • may sound

Must

must definitely be • must hope • must have already turned out • must total • must be

Can

can’t but mention • can put • can expect • can be • can aspire

Could

could expect • could already be

Be able to

are able and willing to do

The number of migrants in the world today, both legal and illegal, …1… perhaps 200m, which …2… a lot (though many of the figures, even those used by governments, are at best educated guesses). The most potent driving engine of the migration both legal and illegal …3… economic reasons.

Politicians in rich countries …4… with migration policies. Under public pressure, they …5… extra resources and energy into building more fences and walls to keep people out. But the basic forces driving migration are unlikely to ebb.

Migration …6… to be a successful strategy for the world's poor to make their lives a little better. One …7… that it is not the very poorest who travel. You …8… in possession of some finance to move to another part of the world. Thus as Africa, China and other emerging countries become less poor, many more people …9… to travel in search of a better life. In the 100 years to 1920 a European who crossed the Atlantic …10… to double his income. Today the incentives are certain to be even more enticing. Those who move from a poor country to a rich one …11… to see their income rise fivefold or more. As long as such differentials persist, the draw will continue.

Demography seems to be another contributing factor. Without migrants, the greying and increasingly choosy populations in much of the rich countries …12… on the decline today, as their fast-changing economies increasingly demand either highly skilled workers or people who …13… unpleasant and tiring jobs. Not enough young natives have the right skills or motivation, so the rich …14… that outsiders will keep coming.

A nd they will. Luckily for Europe and America, there are huge pools of eager workers ready to jump on the next plane, train or leaking raft to work abroad. This …15… beneficial for their home countries as well, at least as long as the population is growing fast.

after Adam Roberts The Economist, Jan 3rd 2008