Lesson 1
MODALS
May /
May not
Might /
Might not
May / Might
May / May not
Might/ Might not
Talking about possibility
(probability, uncertainty)
Asking for and giving permission
May / Might
Modal verbs may and might have the following
characteristics:
They are followed by the base form of another
verb to indicate probability.(possibility)
For Example;
We may to swim.
They might to come.
We may swim.
They might come.
May / Might
2
Modal verbs may and might have the
following characteristics:
-s is not added to the third person singular.
For Example;
Martin mays sleep.
We mights go.
Martin may sleep.
We might go.
May / Might
3
Modal verbs may and might have the
following characteristics:
We do not use do/dont to form questions and
negatives.
For Example;
Do I may come in?
She dont might sing.
May I come in?
She might not sing.
May / Might
Positive (Affirmative) Form
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
may
might
swim.
see.
walk
play.
run.
May / Might
Negative Form
I
You
He
She
It
We
They
may not
(maynt)
might not
(mightnt)
swim.
see.
walk
play.
run.
May / Might
Question (Interrogative) Form
only to ask for
permission
May
to ask if sth coulf
be possible
Might
I
we
come in?
join you?
he
she
it
they
know us?
come early?
May / Might
Talking
about
possibility
May / Might
We use may/might to talk about possibility
in the present or future time.
We understand that there is uncertainty in
the sentence.
expresses more uncertainty than may
! Might
does.
May / Might
For Example;
I may work this weekend, but Im not sure.
I might work this weekend, but Im not sure.
May / Might
More examples;
I may be late tonight.
I might be late tonight.
May / Might
More examples;
Take an umbrella. It might rain.
Take an umbrella. It may rain.
May / Might
However,
notice that might expresses
more uncertainty than may
does.
May / Might
More Examples
They may arrive any minute now.
He may not be at school at this time.
I might go on holiday in June.
He might go to Los Angeles.
She might not come to the party.
May / Might
See the difference:
Im playing tennis tomorrow. (sure)
I might play tennis tomorrow. (possible)
May / Might
Remember!
Perhaps
Maybe
For Example;
There are clouds in the sky. It may rain tomorrow.
=
Maybe it will rain tomorrow.
May / Might
Asking for and
giving
permission !
May / Might
We use may to ask and give permission in a
very formal way.
For Example;
May I use your computer?
May I sit here?
May I ask a question?
May we come in?
EXERCISES
May
May not
Might
Might not
Exercises
Exercise 1.Write sentences with might or might not.
1. (It is possible that I wont pass the exam.)
.
2. (It is possile that Suzan will visit her grandparents.)
.
3. (It is possible that I will go to my friends birthday party tonight.)
.
4.(It is possible that my brother wont arrive on time.)
.
5.(It is possible that it will rain today.)
.
Exercises
Exercise 2. Put the words in the correct order.
1. next / I / play / may / football / Saturday.
.....
2. might / American / she / be.
.
3. ask / we / may / question / a /?
.
4. not / Alice and Kevin /arrive / week / might / next.
.
Exercises
Exercise 3. Circle the correct option.
1) Your friends story .. true.
a)may dont be
b) may be not c) may not be
d) might be not
2) I cant find my keys. They in the car.
a)might being
b) might be not c) may not
d) may be
3)The sky is dark. It . rain.
a)might to
b) may to
c) mays
d) might
4)Theres a lot of work to do. We . finish all of them until tomorrow.
a)may not
b) may to
c) might to not
d) mights
5) I have another piece of cake, please?
a)Might
b) Might not
c) May
d) May not
Exercises
Exercise 4. Write requests or orders using may.
1. Ask if you can answer the phone.
.......................................................................................................?
2. Ask if you can enter the meeting room.
...?
3. Tell them they can go home after the meeting has finished.
.
4.Ask if you can leave the files on the table.
.?
