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Unit 30. May and might 2.




Unit 30; Part A

galka.jpgWe use may and might to talk about possible actions or happenings in the future:

•   
I haven't decided yet where to go for my holidays. I may go to Ireland.  (= perhaps I will go there)
    Take an umbrella with you. It might rain later.
  ( = perhaps it will rain)
•    The bus isn't always on time. We might have to wait a few minutes. 
(= perhaps we will have to wait)

The negative forms are may not and might not (mightn't):

•    Liz may not go out tonight. She isn't feeling well.  (= perhaps she will not go out)
    There might not be enough time to discuss everything at the meeting.
  (= perhaps there will not be enough time)

Compare will and may/might:

•    I'll be late this evening.  (for sure)
•    I may/might be late this evening.
  (possible)

Unit 30; Part B

galka.jpgUsuallyyou can use may or might. So you can say:

•   
I may go to Ireland.   
or   I might go to Ireland.
•    Jane might be able to help you.   
or  Jane may be able to help you.

But we use only might (nor
may) whenthe situation is not real:
•    If I were in Tom's position, I might lookfor another job.
The situation here is not real because I am not inTom's position (so I'm not going to look for another job). May is notpossible in this example.

Unit 30; Part C

galka.jpgThere is also a continuous form: may / mightbe -ing.
Compare this with will be -ing:

•    Don't phone at 8.30. I'll bewatching the film on television.
    Don't phone at 8.30. I might be watching (or I may be watching) the film on television.

     (= perhaps I'll be watching it)

We also use may/might be -ing for possible plans. Compare:

    I'm going to Ireland in July.  (for sure)
•    I may be going
(or I might be going) to Ireland in July.  (possible)

But you can also say 'I may go (or
I might go) ...'  with littledifference in meaning.

Unit 30; Part D

galka.jpgMight as well
Rose and Clare have just missed the bus. The buses run every hour.
30.1.jpg
•     A: What time are you going out?
       B:Well, I'm ready, so I might as well go now.
•     Buses are so expensivethese days, you may as well get a taxi. 
(= taxis are as good, no more expensive)



Exercises

flag.jpgWrite sentences with might.
Key.2 I might buy a Mercedes.
3 I might go to London.
4 He might come on Saturday.
5 I might hang it in the dining room.
6 She might go to university.
You can use may instead of might in all these sentences.


1    Where are you going for your holidays?  (to Ireland???)
      I haven't decided yet.  I might go to Ireland.         
2    What sort of car are you going to buy?  (a Mercedes???)
      I'm not sure yet. I _______________________
3    What are you doing this weekend?  (go to London???)
      I haven't decided yet. _______________________   
4    When is Tom coming to see us?  (on Saturday???)
      He hasn't said yet. _______________________
5    Where are you going to hang that picture?  (in the dining room???)
      I haven't made up my mind yet. _______________________
6    What is Julia going to do when she leaves school?  (go to university???)
      She's still thinking about it. _______________________
flag.jpgComplete the sentences using might + the following:
Key.2    might wake
3    might bite
4    might need
5    might slip
6    might break
You can use may instead of might in all these sentences.
 
bite      break        need       rain    slip    wake
 
1    Take an umbrella with you when you go out. It    might rain    later.
2    Don't make too much noise. You ___________ the baby.
3    Be careful of that dog. It ___________ you.
4    I don't think we should throw that letter away. We ___________ it later.
5    Be careful. The footpath is very icy. You ___________.
6    Don't let the children play in this room. They ___________ something.
flag.jpgComplete the sentences using might be able to or might have to + a suitable verb.
Key.2    might be able to meet/see
3    might have to work
4    might have to go/leave
You can use may instead of might in all these sentences.


1    I can't help you, but why don't you ask Jane? She   might be able to help   you.
2    I can't meet you this evening, but I ________________ you tomorrow.
3    I'm not working on Saturday, but I ________________ on Sunday.
4    I can come to the meeting, but I ________________ before the end.

flag.jpgWrite sentences with might not.
Key.2 I might not go out this evening.
3 We might not get tickets for the concert.
4 Sue might not be able to come out with us this evening.
You can use may instead of might in all these sentences.


1    I'm not sure that Liz will come to the party.
       Liz might not come to the party.     
2    I'm not sure that I'll go out this evening.
      I _______________________________
3    I'm not sure that we'll get tickets for the concert.
      We _______________________________
4    I'm not sure that Sue will be able to come out with us this evening.
      _______________________________
flag.jpgRead the situations and make sentences with might as well.
Key.2    I might as well go to the concert.
3    We might as well paint the bathroom.
4    We might as well watch the film.
You can use may instead of might in all these sentences.


1    You and a friend have just missed the bus. The buses run every hour.
      You say:  We'll have to wait an hour for the next bus.    We might as well walk.  
2   You have a free ticket for a concert. You're not very keen on theconcert, but you decide to go.
      You say:  I __________________ to the concert. It's apity to waste a free ticket.
3    You've just painted your kitchen. You still have a lot of paint, so why not paint the bathroom too?
      You say:  We __________________.There's plenty of paint left.
4    You and a friend are at home. You're bored. There's a film on TV starting in a few minutes.
      You say: __________________ There's nothing else to do.


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