May and might

May and Might (1)
A
B
C

We use may or might to say that something is a possibility. They have the same meaning.
You can say :
A
“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 (or mightn’t)
Example :
It might not be true.
(= perhaps it isn’t true)
I’m not sure whether I can lend you
any money. I may not have enough.
(= perhaps I don’t have enough )

THE STRUCTURE

For the past we use may have (done) or might have (done)
I can’t find my bag anywhere.
You might have left in the shop. (= perhaps you left in the shop)
I wonder why Kay didn’t answer the phone.
She may have been asleep. (= perhaps she was asleep)
B

I was surprised that Sarah wasn’t at the meeting.
She might not have known about it. (= perhaps she didn’t know)
I wonder why Colin was in such a bad mood yesterday.
He may not have been feeling well. (= perhaps he wasn’t feeling well)

The Structure

MAY & MIGHT VS COULD
The phone’s ringing. It could be Tim.
(= it may/might be Tim )
You could have left your bag in the shop. ( =you may/might have left it...)

But couldn’t (negative) is different from may not and might not
She was too far away, so she couldn’t have seen you. ( =it is not possible that she saw you)
A : I wonder why she didn’t say hello.
B : She might not have seen you.
(= perhaps she didn’t see you; perhaps she did)
C

Use may / might / may not/might not.
1.Sally isn't feeling very well. Sally (not go) _________ to school tomorrow.
2.It's my aunt's birthday, so we _________ (buy) her a new CD.
3.Paul doesn't study very much. He _________ (not pass) his exams.
4.Sarah and Tom _________ (not come) to the beach with us this weekend.
5.My sister is going to London for a week. I _________ (lend) her my new camera. I’m really tired, so I_________ (not go) to the party tonight.
6.My cousin is starting at your school next term.
7.You_________ (be) in the same class!
8.Jack's going away tomorrow, and we_________ (not see) him before he goes.

2. Make a sentence with the same meaning. Use the word in brackets.
1.Perhaps it will snow tomorrow, (might)
2.Perhaps a friend will visit me next weekend. (may)
3.Perhaps Sam will buy a new computer. (may)
4.Perhaps I will change my job next year, (might)
5.Perhaps I won't go to work tomorrow, (might)
6.Perhaps the children won't have a holiday next summer. (may)

Translate the sentences. Используйте may / might.
1.Возможно, Вы встретите Салли на станции.
2.Вероятно, Алексей оставил вам вчера записку.
3.Катя, вероятно, забыла зонт дома и поэтому промокла.
4.Мелоди, возможно, поймет все, когда повзрослеет.
5.Может быть, дверь не заперта.

Keys
Exercise 1.
1 Might not, 2 may, 3 mightn’t, 4 may not, 5 may / might, 6 mightn’t, 7 might be, 8 may not / mightn’t
Exercise 2.
1. It might snow tomorrow.
2.A friend may visit me next weekend.
3.Sam may buy a new computer.
4.I might change my job next year.
5.I mightn’t go to work tomorrow.
6.The children may not have a holiday next summer.
Exercise 3
1.You might meet Sally at the station.
2.Alexey might have left a note for you yesterday.
3.Kate may have forgotten to take her umbrella and she’s got wet. 4.Melody might understand everything when she grows up.
5.The door may be open.