The negative form is: may / might + not. Rewrite the given ideas using will, may, and might in complete sentences. It is also often used in conditional sentences. May I take you out to dinner if I promise to have you home by 11pm? (More than one answer is possible) 1. Some example sentences with May and Might are… I might watch another episode. Could, Might, Had to). In other words, with the first example above, they could treat the likelihood of you attending the concert as, let's say, a 40% possibility. The Everyday Grammar team is on the job, explaining how to use these modals to … One false move may lose the game. 3) There is a good change that we (might, may) have to postpone the meeting. Nicky asked if she could come with them. Might she be hungry? (future possibility) My keys might be in the car. Listen to all | All sentences (with pause) Example sentences: " It may take a long time. " To make requests, May can be used with ‘I’ or ‘we’. You’ll learn how to structure sentences with with have and the past participle. In some instances, there is no difference. " She may leave early. " Permission How may I help you? 6) You never know, I (may, might) become president one day. You might try the this cake. " It may not work. " ; We were so near the sea that I could hear the seagulls. "Might" is a modal verb most commonly used to express possibility. or I may go traveling next year. (present possibility) 3. Either modal verb can be used. (5) Might Definition and Examples. You might not see him tomorrow. (Strong possibility) By the end of this month, I might … ; May and might are used as follows:. She might work late tonight. However, it is more common to use can and could. Before getting into the distinct usages of may have and might have, I’d like you to note that you may get answers wherein you are told that might is the past form of may. They may be in the car. I might join you if I finish my work early. A. (I want to go to the beach tomorrow, so if the weather is good I’m certain that I will go). You might catch a cold if you don’t put on a jacket. If you are speaking about a situation that isn’t real, it is better to use the word might.. To speak about possible actions or events in the past, use may have (done) or might have (done). Modal Verbs MIGHT – Possibility It might rain today. Might ‘May’ and ‘might’ are a bit easier. Must, Can, May) are changed into Past Modals (i.e. "Might" can be used in both the first conditional and the second conditional (future possible and present unreal) sentences. Nowadays, "might" and "may" express equal levels of possibility. And best of all you’ll see lots of examples in action in a spooky story and be invited to put them to use and create more examples of your own. Future: I may go to the party tonight. 2) There is a small chance the we (may, might) go to the beach this weekend. The question form is: may / might + subject. There is definitely a party tomorrow evening at my house. (Thanks for the permission.) All of those auxiliaries work. There may be other reasons that we don’t know. ; When she entered the kitchen, she could smell something burning. She might not buy the book. The structure may / might + perfect infinitive can also be used to refer to the present or future. He could call you back tonight. May, Might and Must are modal verbs that cause confusion for some learners. You may sit at the front of the class. Examples. May and might - modal verbs exercises. We could choose a new color of paint for the bedroom. You’ll also learn how the meaning of the phrases may not have and might not have differ from couldn’t have. May is formal and is often found in writing, like this example: If I entered the contest, I might actually win. To express (future) possibility. May/Might/Could/Must + Base Verb. Read the following examples: Direct Speech May expresses a greater degree of certainty: You should ask him. Besides being a request for permission, the word ‘may’ can also refer to something that is likely to happen. However, be aware that some of your readers could treat "may" as more likely than "might." (Perhaps he knows her number.) Present and future. You should introduce yourself; he may/might not remember you. ‘Might’ has a similar meaning, but refers to something a bit less likely to happen. Grammar expert Betty Azar explains that these modals tell us how sure speakers are about what they are saying. May and might + infinitive are used to express present or future possibility.May expresses a greater degree of certainty:. She could finish her project tonight. 5) The airplane (might, may) crash. For converting direct speech into indirect speech, Present Modals (e.g. You should ask him. Below are some words that might be used or indicate use of will, may and/or might. May I give this question a try? In essence, may implies that there is a better likelihood or possibility of something happening than might does (maybe 70% vs. 30%). Watch and learn how to use May, Might in Spoken English conversation. Price can be high in Texas. ‘ May I come with you?’ Nicky asked. We can use May and Might – To express possibility This week's Everyday Grammar looks at how to use the modals may, must and might. Compare will and may/might: If it’s sunny, I will go to the beach tomorrow. I might join you if I finish early. Okay, here goes! 4) Billy and I (may, might) cook dinner tonight. Might is the past tense of may. Could, may and might - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary I might have answered it sooner, but today’s been a very busy day. English Modal Verbs Might, Definition and Example Sentences Modal Verbs MIGHT – Suggestion You might want to take a break. (Perhaps I will see you later.) _____ 2. English speakers use 'might' to make suggestions or requests, although this is more common in British English and could be seen as extremely formal. Worksheets - handouts. He may/might know Susan's telephone number. May and Might – possibility. That may be a better solution. These two sentences are equivalent, for example: I may have been taking a shower when you called. ", People today do not always follow these rules about present and past tense for may and might. May have been and might have been mean the same thing in American English, and are nearly always interchangeable. Examples: I may eat dinner at 7:00 pm. May. Let’s look at a few examples: If it is sunny tomorrow, it would be fun for us to go to the beach. Both may and might can be used in requests and in expressions of possibility for the present and future.. Might I ask you your name? ; We may / might go to the cinema tonight. Yes? " She may go with us. " May is … Claire may help you study if you promise to work hard. In your first example, you could say: If you don't hurry, you may / might / could / will /.are going to miss the train. You can use may might and could with the same simple structure if you’re talking about the present or the future.They mean the same thing and you’ll have no problems. This cream may produce a stinging sensation. 'Might' is also used in conditional sentences. And Believer has a point, this is an interdiction, you don't want to put doubts in it, which might always does in present time. Some example sentences with May and Might are… I might watch another episode. On the other hand, might is a past participle form of may, which is also used to show the possibility of the occurrence of an event, but only when there is a small degree of possibility. They might attend the awards ceremony tomorrow night. May I speak to Lussie, please? Index of contents. Video: may / might. He may not attend the meeting. Compare: By the end of this month, I may have finished this work. The verbs ‘may’ and ‘might’ are used to say that something is possibly true: I think I might be coming down with the flu. " He may come home tomorrow. " Can / could - exercises May / might Must / have to Shall / should Will / would Mixed modals - exercises Had better Home. ; I might have been taking a shower when you called. A. Craig may / might know his results soon. Below are some words that might be used or indicate use of will, may and/or might. Future with will, may, and might. ; Craig may / might know his results soon. ‘Might’ has a similar meaning, but refers to something a bit less likely to happen. Used to ask for permission; Used to refer to something that could have been in the past. Examples. May shows possibility in the present or the future. "May" is almost the same as "might" to express possibility in the future. English Modal Verbs May, Example Sentences Possibility She may see him tomorrow before she leave. The weather may / might be better tomorrow. ; The weather may / might be better tomorrow. Editor Emily Brewster responds:. Auxiliary verbs exercises elementary, intermediate and adavanced level esl. May is a verb used in sentences to show a higher degree of possibility of the happening of an action or event. In informal situations ‘might’ is more common than ‘may’ when we want to talk about what someone will do in the future: They might move to London. and verbs like understand, remember, etc:. Modals of POSSIBILITY, Definiton and Example Sentences We use MAY, MIGHT and COULD to talk about present or future possibility. We can substitute may, might and could for maybe, perharbs or probably (which aren`t modal verbs) Example Sentences They could be there by now. Can and could are also used to express the progressive (continuous) aspect of verbs of perception (see, hear, feel, taste, smell, etc.) A reader asked for some guidance on using the modal verbs "may," "might," "can," "could," and "ought." I don't think I am reading might in these sentences as Jim does, as a past, but surely I agree with him that: Visitors might not feed the animals means It is possible that visitors will not feed the animals or Maybe visitors will not feed the animals. English speakers can also use "might" to make suggestions or requests, although this is less common in American English. May or Might instead of Will in First Conditional. (1) Examples: Can you see the woman standing over there? Future with will, may, and might. In this case, may and might show possibility. However, using might in forming questions is not very common. It’s a small difference, but a difference nonetheless. I may/might see you later. The entries for each of these include the complete definitions, as well as many example sentences, so I will discuss here only the aspects of each that I … Present: Where are my keys? Finally, we use the modal verb “might” to indicate remote possibility, for example: I might make it to work on time, if I leave now. May, might and could are really useful English modal verbs. " They may join us for dinner. " Used to talk about a hypothetical or remotely possible situation; Might Examples: He might get there in time, but I can’t be sure. 'Might' is used mostly to express possibility. May or might can also be used to substitute Will in First conditional sentences. They must be tired. We use them in lots of different ways but an important one how we use them to express uncertainty when we’re not sure. Although this is less common in American English, and might have been mean the same thing in American.! 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