Unit 29 · Modals
may and might 1
Study
Study this example situation:
You are looking for Ben. Nobody is sure where he is, but you get some suggestions.
Where's Ben? He may be in his office. (= perhaps he is in his office)
He might be having lunch. (= perhaps he is having lunch)
Ask Kate. She might know. (= perhaps she knows)
We use may or might to say that something is possible. You can use may or might:
It may be true. or It might be true. (= perhaps it is true)
She might know. or She may know.
The negative forms are may not and might not:
It may not be true. (= perhaps it isn't true)
She might not know. (= perhaps she doesn't know)
| I/you/he (etc.) | may | (not) | be (true / in his office etc.) |
| might | be-ing (doing / working / having etc.) | ||
| know / work / want etc. |
Note the difference between may be (2 words) and maybe (1 word):
It may be true. (may + verb)
'Is it true?' 'Maybe. I'm not sure.' (maybe = it's possible, perhaps)
For the past we use may have … or might have … :
a: I wonder why Kate didn't answer her phone. b: She may have been asleep. (= perhaps she was asleep)
a: I can't find my phone anywhere. b: You might have left it at work. (= perhaps you left it at work)
a: Why wasn't Amy at the meeting yesterday? b: She might not have known about it. (= perhaps she didn't know)
a: I wonder why David was in such a bad mood yesterday. b: He may not have been feeling well. (= perhaps he wasn't feeling well)
| I/you/he (etc.) | may | (not) have | been (asleep / at home etc.) |
| might | been-ing (doing / working / feeling etc.) | ||
| known / had / wanted / left etc. |
could is similar to may and might:
It's a strange story, but it could be true. (= it is possible that it's true)
You could have left your phone at work. (= it's possible that you left it there)
But couldn't (negative) is different from may not and might not. Compare:
Sarah couldn't have received my message. Otherwise she would have replied. (= it is not possible that she got my message)
Why hasn't Sarah replied to my message? I suppose she might not have received it. (= it's possible that she didn't receive it – perhaps she did, perhaps she didn't)
could → Unit 27 may/might 2 → Unit 30 may I … ? → Unit 37C might with if → Units 30B, 38C, 40D Modal verbs (can/will etc.) → Appendix 4
Exercises (3)
Complete the sentences. Choose from the box.
- 1a: Do you know where Helen is?b: I'm not sure. She .example
- 2a: Is there a bookshop near here?b: I'm not sure, but ask Anna. She .
- 3a: Where are those people from?b: I don't know. They .
- 4a: I hope you can help me.b: I'll try, but it .
- 5a: Whose phone is this?b: It's not mine. It .
- 6a: Why doesn't George answer his phone?b: He .
- 7a: Do you know anyone who has a key to this cupboard?b: Rachel , but I'm not sure.
- 8a: Gary is in a strange mood today.b: Yes, he is. He .
Complete each sentence using the verb in brackets.
- 1a: Where's Ben?b: I'm not sure. He might lunch. (have)example
- 2a: Who was the guy we saw with Anna yesterday?b: I'm not sure. It may her brother. (be)
- 3a: Is Ellie here?b: I can't see her. She may not yet. (arrive)
- 4a: Gary said he would meet us in the cafe, but he isn't here.b: He might outside. I'll go and look. (wait)
- 5a: How did John know that I'd lost my job?b: I don't know. I suppose Sam may him. (tell)
- 6a: Do you know where Jeff is? Is he still in the office?b: He was here earlier, but he might home. (go)
- 7a: Where's Emma? What's she doing?b: I'm not sure. She might TV. (watch)
- 8a: Does Max have any brothers or sisters?b: I'm not sure. I think he may a younger sister. (have)
- 9a: I can't find my umbrella. Have you seen it?b: You may it in the restaurant last night. (leave)
- 10a: I rang Dan's doorbell, but he didn't answer. I'm sure he was there.b: He might not the doorbell. (hear)
- 11a: Hannah is supposed to meet us here, and she's already 20 minutes late.b: She may . She's always forgetting things. (forget)
Complete the sentences using might not have … or couldn't have … .
- 1a: I was surprised Amy wasn't at the meeting. Perhaps she didn't know about it.b: Maybe. She about it.example
- 2a: I wonder why Tom didn't come to the party. Perhaps he didn't want to come.b: It's possible. He to come.
- 3a: I wonder how the fire started. Was it an accident?b: No, the police say it an accident. It was deliberate.
- 4a: Mike says he needs to see you. He tried to find you yesterday.b: Well, he very hard. I was in my office all day.
- 5a: The man you spoke to – are you sure he was American?b: No, I'm not sure. He .