Unit 29. May and might 1.
Unit 29; Part A
 Study this example situation: You are looking for Bob. Nobody is sure where he is, but you get some suggestions.  | ||||
| We use may or might to say that something is a possibility. Usually you can use may or might, so you can say: • 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): • It may not be true. (= perhaps it isn't true) • She might not work here any more. (= perhaps she doesn't work here) Study the structure:
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Unit 29; Part B
For the past we use may have (done) or might have (done): • A: I wonder why Kate didn't answer the phone.
B: She may have been asleep. (= perhaps she was asleep)
• A: I can't find my bag anywhere.
B: You might have left it in the shop. (= perhaps you left it in the shop)
• A: I was surprised that Kate wasn't 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)
Study the structure:
| I / you / he (etc.) | may might | (not) have | been (asleep / at home etc.) been (doing / working / feeling etc. known / had / wanted / left etc. |
Unit 29; Part C
Could is similar to may and might:• It's a strange story, but it could be true. (= it may/might be true)
• 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. Compare:
• Sarah couldn't have got my message. Otherwise she would have replied.
(= it is not possible that she got my message)
• I wonder why Sarah hasn't replied to my message. I suppose she might not have got it.
Exercises
Write these sentences in a different way using might.Key.2 She might be busy.
3 She might be working.
4 She might want to be alone.
5 She might have been ill yesterday.
6 She might have gone home early.
7 She might have had to go home early.
8 She might have been working yesterday.
9 She might not want to see me.
10 She might not be working today.
11 She might not have been feeling well yesterday.
You can use may instead of might in all these sentences.
| 1 Perhaps Helen is in her office. 2 Perhaps Helen is busy. 3 Perhaps she is working. 4 Perhaps she wants to be alone. 5 Perhaps she was ill yesterday. 6 Perhaps she went home early. 7 Perhaps she had to go home early. 8 Perhaps she was working yesterday. | She might be in her office. ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ |
In sentences 9-11 use might not. | |
| 9 Perhaps she doesn't want to see me. 10 Perhaps she isn't working today. 11 Perhaps she wasn't feeling well yesterday. | ____________________________ ____________________________ ____________________________ |
Complete each sentence with a verb in the correct form.Key.2 be
3 have been
4 be waiting
5 have
1 'Where's Sam?' 'I'm not sure. He might be having lunch.'
2 'Who is that man with Emily?" 'I'm not sure. It might ____________ her brother.'
3 A: Who was the man we saw with Anna yesterday?
B: I'm not sure. It may ____________ her brother.
4 A: What are those people doing by the side of the road?
B: I don't know. They might ____________ for a bus.
5 'Do you have a stamp?' 'No, but ask Simon. He may ____________ one.'
Read the situation and make sentences from the words in brackets. Use might.Key.2 a She might be watching TV in her room.
b She might have gone out.
3 a It might be in the car.
b You might have left it in the restaurant last night.
4 a He might have gone to bed early.
b He might not have heard the doorbell.
с He might have been in the shower.
You can use may instead of might in all these sentences.
1 I can't find Jeff anywhere. I wonder where he is.
a (he / go / shopping) He might have gone shopping.
b (he / play / tennis) He might be playing tennis.
2 I'm looking for Sarah. Do you know where she is?
a (she / watch / TV / in her room) _____________________________
b (she / go / out) _____________________________
3 I can't find my umbrella. Have you seen it?
a (it / be / in the car) _____________________________
b (you / leave / in the restaurant last night) _____________________________
4 Why didn't Dave answer the doorbell? I'm sure he was at home at the time.
a (he / go / to bed early) _____________________________
b (he / not / hear / the doorbell) _____________________________
с (he / be / in the shower) _____________________________
Complete the sentences using might not have ... or couldn't have ... .Key.3 might not have received it
4 couldn't have been an accident
5 couldn't have tried
6 might not have been American
1 A: Do you think Sarah got the message we sent her?
B: No, she would have contacted us. She couldn't have got it
2 A: I was surprised Kate wasn't at the meeting. Perhaps she didn't know about it.
B: That's possible. She might not have known about it
3 A: I wonder why they never replied to our letter. Do you think they received it?
B: Maybe not. They _____________________________________
4 A: I wonder how the fire started. Was it an accident?
B: No, the police say it _____________________________________
5 A: 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.
6 A: The man you spoke to - are you sure he was American?
B: No, I'm not sure. He _____________________________________
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