The Noun
Articles
Comparatives
Superlatives
Definite Article
Similary and Contrast
Uncountable Nouns
Preposition Park
Prepositions I
Prépositions & Postpositions II (The Preposition Strikes Back)
Prepositions & Postpositions III (the Return of the Preposition)
Syntax and connectors
Number Concordance
Relative Clauses
Syntax and Concordance
The English Sentence
Who and Which Relative
Tags
Either/Neither (of)
Relative Clauses
The qualifying adjective
Verbs and Tenses
Conditional
Futur Tenses
-ING Forms
Modals
Passive Voice
Past Tenses
Past Time
Present Perfect
Present Perfect: back and not happy
Preterit, Present Perfect, Present Progressive & Past Perfect
Used to/To be used to
The Expression of the Future
Modals
May and Might

May and Might

INTRODUCTION

- May and might don't take s at the third person singular : He may / She might
- May and might are followed by infinitive without to : It might rain.
- Questions and negative form with may and might don't need do : May we go? / He might
not come.

I / The present

Structure : I/you/he… MAY/MIGHT (not) be ( true…)
be ( doing / working/having…)
do / know/ want …
1. Positive Form

- We use may or might to say that something is a possibility.
Usually you can use may or might :

Example : It may be true / It might be true. It seems : perhaps it is true.

- We use may or might to talk about possible actions or happenings in the future.

Examples : Take an umbrella with you when you go out. It might rain later.
( = perhaps it will rain)
I haven't decided yet where to spend my holidays. I may go to Ireland.
( = perhaps I will go to Ireland)

2. Negative Form

The negative forms are may not and might not ( or mightn't)

Examples : It might not be true ( = perhaps it isn't true)
I may not have enough ( = perhaps I don't have enough)

Ann may not come to the party tonight.She isn't well.
( = perhaps she will not come)

II / The past

Structure : I/you/he… MAY/MIGHT (not)have been ( at home…)
been ( doing/waiting…)
done / known / had…

For the past we use may have or might have.

Example : I wonder why Kay didn't answer the phone. She may have been asleep.
( = perhaps she was asleep).
I can't find my bag anywhere. You might have left it in the shop
( = perhaps you left it in the shop).

III / The difference between MAY and MIGHT

- A difference of degree : we use might for a lower probability.

Example : It might happen

- We use might to make suggestions and criticisms.

Example : You might take your boots off in the house.

- We use only might when the situation is not real (= high virtuality).

Example : If I knew them better, I might invite them to dinner.
( The situation here is not real because I don't know them very well, so I'm not
going to invite them ).

- We use may to ask and give permission.

Examples : May I buy you a drink ?
May I go home now ? Yes , you may.

IV / Others forms of MIGHT and MAY

- Might as well / may as well

Example : We might as well do something = We should do something because there is
may as well
nothing better to do and there is no reason not to do it.

V / Exercices

A/ Complete the sentences with a verb in the correct form.

1. Where's Bob ? I'm not sure.He might be having lunch.

2. Who is that man with Ann ? I'm not sure. It might ……her brother.

3. Who was the man we saw with Ann yesterday ? I'm not sure. It might ……. her brother.

B/ Write sentences with may or migh.

1. Where are you going for your holidays ? ( to Ireland ?)
I haven't decided yet. I may go to Ireland.

2. What sort of car are you going to buy ? ( a Mercedes ?)
I'm not sure yet. I ……..

3. What are you doing this weekend ? ( go to London ?)
I haven't decided yet. ……….

4. Where are you going to hang that picture ? ( in the dining room ?)
I haven't made up my mind yet . ……….

C/ Write sentences with may not or might not.

1. ( I don't know if Ann will come to the party ). Ann might not come to the party.
2. ( I don't know if I'll go out this evening). I ………
3. ( I don't know if Tom will like the present I bought for him). Tom ………
4. ( I don't know if Sue will be able to meet us this evening). ………

D/ Complete the sentences using might + one of these verbs :

bite / break / need / slip / wake / rain

1. Take an umbrella with you when you go out. It might rain later.
2. Don't make too much noise. You ……… the baby.
3. Be careful of that dog. It ……… you.
4. I don't think we should throw that letter away. We ……… it later.
5. Be careful. The footpath is very icy. You ……….
6. I don't want the children to play in this room. They ………something.