Possibility
Modal verbs
Possibilities (guesses) : could, may*, might + infinitive
Present possibilities
● They could be stuck in traffic.
● Where are my keys? They might still be in the car.
● It’s raining here but it may be sunny there.
Future possibilities
● It could cost more than you expect.
● I may be 5 minutes late.
● We might have to change our plans.
What could you do tomorrow? Where might you be in 5 years?
Negative possibilities: may, might + not + infinitive
● I might not be ready until 5.
● He may not be able to help you.
● I might not be able to go to the party tomorrow.
● He may not be interested in you.
We are not able to use “could not” in any of these sentences because it changes the
meaning to the past of can’t.
Why might you not be able to…
Past possibilities: could/might/may + have + past participle
● He might have missed the train.
● I may have left my wallet in the car.
● They could have been busy.
Your teacher didn’t show up for the class. What could be the reason?
Past possibility: could
We know what the result was. Exclamations. Usually something bad.
● You could have hurt yourself!
● It could have been worse.
● We could have died!
Specific possibilities vs General: 50% may might 90% can
Specific: one person, one place, one time.
● She may join the study group on sunday. ( i don’t know for sure 100%)
● I might be getting a cold.
● They could be coming over later.
General: many people, many times, many places
● It can take some people many years before they choose a career. ( fact: 90%)
● It can be very hot and humid here in summer.
● She can be grumpy when she is hungry. (I’m 90%)
Notice the difference in meaning between can and may/might/could:
That dog can be dangerous. (= Sometimes that dog is dangerous. I know.)
That dog may/might/could be dangerous. (= Perhaps that dog is dangerous. I don't know.)
Use can or might/may/could:
1. I don't know where Eliza is. She ______ be in her office.
2. Eliza's a good boss, but she _______ be difficult sometimes.
3. We can invite Filip to dinner tonight, but I think he ________ be too tired.
4. Don't feed that dog. You don't know where it's from. It _______ be dangerous.
5. You shouldn't walk home alone. This city _______ be dangerous at night.
6. Sometimes, the temperature in Antarctica ________ be less than –50°C.
7. Please, don't tell John about our meeting. He _______ be angry.
8. There are many different types of tea. It _______ be white, yellow, green or black.
Practice:
They aren’t answering their phones. They___________be somewhere without signal.
The passengers on the plane _________________ died if the pilot hadn’t reacted so
quickly.
Have you seen my sweatshirt? I ____________ not of washed it.
She _____________ have been busy and that’s why she didn’t call you back.
