Unit 29. May and might 1.
Unit 29; Part A
![]() 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

• 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

• 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
![]() | Unit 28 Unit 29 Unit 30 | ![]() |