Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksExport to PDFBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======Might and may====== =====Introduction===== <html><p><img height="190" id="1255" style="width: 80px; height: 102px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/1255_66a018bf3a1ebd29b052abe7995435ae.png"> <b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif";'>That <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">might </span>be the solution to our problem.</span></b> </p></html> =====Definition===== <html><P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=EN-US>May </SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>and<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc"> might </SPAN>are modal auxiliary verbs with different uses.<SPAN style="COLOR: red"> </SPAN></SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="COLOR: red"></SPAN></SPAN></B> </P></html> =====Construction===== <html><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 19.2pt; vertical-align: middle; tab-stops: 3.0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>affirmative:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>subject + 'may/might' + <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">bare infinitive </span></span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">might</span>/<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">may</span> attend.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 19.2pt; vertical-align: middle; tab-stops: 3.0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'><br></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 19.2pt; vertical-align: middle; tab-stops: 3.0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>negative:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>subject + 'may/might' + not + <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">bare infinitive</span></span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">might</span>/<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">may</span> <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">not </span>attend.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 19.2pt; vertical-align: middle; tab-stops: 3.0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'><br></span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 19.2pt; vertical-align: middle; tab-stops: 3.0cm;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>i</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>nterrogative:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>'may/might'<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"> </span>+ subject + <span style="color: rgb(112, 48, 160);">bare infinitive</span></span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">Might </span>you attend? <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">May</span> I help you? </span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: 19.2pt; vertical-align: middle; tab-stops: 3.0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'><strong> </strong><span style='font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; ;'><strong>['might' is very formal in questions and rarely used.]</strong></span></span></p> <p><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'><br></span></b></p><p><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>Note that </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>like other modal auxiliaries, </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";'>may </span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";'>and<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);"> might </span>have</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> no infinitive and we use the same form with 'I', 'you', 'he', 'she', 'it', 'we' and 'they'. 'Do' is not used to form negative or interrogative sentences.</span></b> </p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; line-height: normal; vertical-align: middle;"> </p></html> =====Uses===== <html><p><br></p><table style="border: currentColor; border-image: none; border-collapse: collapse; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid #5B9BD5 1.0pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes;"> <td width="423" valign="top" style="background: rgb(91, 155, 213); border-width: 1pt 0px 0px 1pt; border-style: solid none none solid; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 253.5pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><b><span style='color: white; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: background1;'>Use </span></b></p> </td> <td width="376" valign="top" style="background: rgb(91, 155, 213); border-width: 1pt 1pt 0px 0px; border-style: solid solid none none; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 225.3pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="line-height: 115%; margin-bottom: 10pt;"><b><span style='color: white; line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: background1;'>Example</span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td width="423" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 0px 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 253.5pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>Polite requests</span></b></p> </td> <td width="376" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 225.3pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>May</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> I borrow your pen please?</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td width="423" valign="top" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 253.5pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>Offers</span></b></p> </td> <td width="376" valign="top" style="border-width: 0px 1pt 0px 0px; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 225.3pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>May</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> I help you?</span></b></p><p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'></span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>Might </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>I take your coat? [very formal, rarely used]</span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"> <td width="423" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 0px 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 253.5pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>Possibility now</span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>[See note 1. below about interrogative forms.]</span></b></p> </td> <td width="376" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 225.3pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>The report </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>may</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> be on the printer.</span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>Susan </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> be in the canteen as she is not in her office.</span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"> <td width="423" valign="top" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 253.5pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>Possibility in the future</span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b></p> </td> <td width="376" valign="top" style="border-width: 0px 1pt 0px 0px; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 225.3pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>It </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>may</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> rain later so take your umbrella. </span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>John </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> speak at the conference instead of David.</span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;"> <td width="423" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 0px 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 253.5pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>Permission</span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>Might </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>is <u>very rarely used</u>. You may still hear it on very formal occasions or read it in literature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;'> </span></p> </td> <td width="376" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 225.3pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>May</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> I use your telephone?</span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6;"> <td width="423" valign="top" style="border-width: 0px 0px 1pt 1pt; border-style: none none solid solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 253.5pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>Might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> is also used for criticism or reproach.</span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;'> </span></p> </td> <td width="376" valign="top" style="border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 225.3pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>You </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> help me rather than watching me struggle!</span></b></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><p> <br></p><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'><p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif;'>Notes</span></b></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;'>1. </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>Rather than using </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> in questions about possibiity, it is more common to use 'Do</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;'><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>you think..?' For example:</span></b></p><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><table style="margin: auto auto auto 42.3pt; border: currentColor; border-image: none; border-collapse: collapse; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-border-insideh: none; mso-border-insidev: none;" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes;"><td width="390" valign="top" style="padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none; width: 233.9pt; background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>"Do you think you'll go to the conference?" is better than...</span></b></p><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></p><font face="Times New Roman"> </font></td><td width="291" valign="top" style="padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none; width: 174.6pt; background-color: transparent;"><p><font face="Times New Roman"> </font></p><p><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>Might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> you go to the conference?</span></b><font face="Times New Roman"> </font></p></td></tr><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"><td width="390" valign="top" style="padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none; width: 233.9pt; background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt; vertical-align: middle;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>"</span><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>Do you think that John has a new girlfriend?" is better than... </span></b></p><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><p style="margin: 1em 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></p></td><td width="291" valign="top" style="padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none; width: 174.6pt; background-color: transparent;"><font face="Times New Roman"> </font><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>Might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> John have a new girlfriend?<span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span></span></b><font face="Times New Roman"> </font></td></tr></tbody></table><p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We use</span></b><b><span style='color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(112, 48, 160); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>could</span></b><b><span style='color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>for questions about possibility:</span></b></p><p><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>May John have sent it in the post instead of by email? </span></b><span lang="EN-GB"></span></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 42.55pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(112, 48, 160); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Could</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> John have sent it in the post instead of by email?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;'><br></span></b></p><p><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial;'>2. </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>If there is a chance that </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>may</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> could be understood as permission, then we use </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>. For example:</span></b></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Susan </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>may</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> go to the party.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[permission or possibility]</span></b></p><p><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'></span></b><b><span style='color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>Susan </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> go to the party. [possibility]</span></b></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> <br></font></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-align: justify; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>3. If you are in doubt about which modal to use:</span></b></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(112, 48, 160); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>can</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> to express ability.</span></b></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 24.55pt; text-align: justify;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> to express possibility.</span></b></p><p><font color="#000000" face="Times New Roman"> </font><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Use </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>may</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> to ask for or express permission.</span></b></p></span><p><br></p></html> =====‘Might’/‘may’ or ‘could’ for possibility?===== <html><P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>When talking about possibility, <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">might</SPAN>/<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">may</SPAN> and <SPAN style="COLOR: #7030a0">could</SPAN><SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc"> </SPAN>are not always interchangeable because <SPAN style="COLOR: #7030a0">could </SPAN>has two meanings:</SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class=MsoListParagraph><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">1)<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>'C<SPAN style="BACKGROUND: white; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">an achieve - able to be done or achieved, or able to exist' </SPAN></SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>The three words are <U>not</U> interchangeable when we are talking about possibility in this way:</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 72pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>"We <SPAN style="COLOR: #7030a0">could</SPAN> play tennis today" means that all the right conditions exist - we have enough time, we have a tennis court nearby etc. We have the ability to play if we want to. <SPAN style="COLOR: red"></SPAN></SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 72pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>"We <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">might</SPAN>/<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">may</SPAN> play tennis today" means that we are considering playing tennis but we are not sure. </SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -18pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1" class=MsoListParagraph><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; mso-fareast-font-family: Arial" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-list: Ignore">2)<SPAN style="FONT: 7pt 'Times New Roman'"> </SPAN></SPAN></SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>'Not certain - <SPAN style="BACKGROUND: white; mso-bidi-font-weight: bold">that might or might not happen' </SPAN></SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -1cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 1cm; tab-stops: 1.0cm"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Here, they <U>are</U> interchangeable. In these sentences, we could also use 'maybe' or</SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -1cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 1cm; tab-stops: 1.0cm"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>'perhaps'.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -1cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 1cm; tab-stops: 1.0cm"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>For example, the following sentences all have the same meaning - there is a possibility </SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>that John is in the boardroom: </SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 36pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 72pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>John <SPAN style="COLOR: #7030a0">could </SPAN>be in the boardroom.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 72pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>John <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">might</SPAN> be in the boardroom.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 72pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>John <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">may </SPAN>be in the boardroom.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 72pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>Maybe John is in the boardroom.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 72pt"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>Perhaps John is in the boardroom.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 1cm; tab-stops: 1.0cm"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US></SPAN></B> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 1cm; tab-stops: 1.0cm"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US>Different levels of certainty or doubt can be expressed by changes in the tone of voice used.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt 1cm; tab-stops: 1.0cm"><B><SPAN style="LINE-HEIGHT: 115%; FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-US></SPAN></B> </P></html> =====The present continuous===== <html> <p style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 16.2pt; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>Might </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>and</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> may </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>can also be followed by the</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(112, 48, 160); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>present continuous</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>for possibility now or in the future. For example:</span></b></p> <p style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 16.2pt 36pt; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>They</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>may </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>be having lunch now; it's half past twelve.</span></b></p> <p style="background: white; margin: 0cm 0cm 16.2pt 36pt; vertical-align: middle;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>Gilbert</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>might not</span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(42, 42, 42); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></b><b><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'>be driving to the airport tomorrow - his car isn't reliable at the moment. </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>When using </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>might </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>and </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>may </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>with the simple tenses, it is easy to see if the speaker is referring to the present or the future. For example:</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt 36pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>Susan </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>migh</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>t be in the canteen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>[present] </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt 36pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>John </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> speak at the conference. [future] </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>With the continuous, it might not be clear. For example:</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt; text-indent: 36pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>John </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> be speaking at the conference. [present or future?]</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>If necessary, we add a time reference.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>John </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> be speaking at the conference at the moment.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>John </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> be speaking at the conference later.</span></b></p> <br></html> =====Examples===== <html><p><a class="various" href="https://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/95_719e139c9e2bf322c460b8d97d866528.jpg" rel="image_show"><img width="284" height="422" id="95" style="width: 90px; height: 120px;" alt="window shopping women pointing girls" src="https://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/95_719e139c9e2bf322c460b8d97d866528.jpg"></a> <strong><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; ;'>Do you think that one </span><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; ;'>might</span><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; ;'> suit me?</span><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; ; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;'> </span></strong></p><p><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; ; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;'><a class="various" href="https://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/1173_99640f0f8c00d47fb6cb353aa13eac4b.png" rel="image_show"><img width="179" height="226" id="1173" style="width: 91px; height: 115px;" alt="femme cafe tasse time watch coffee mug" src="https://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/1173_99640f0f8c00d47fb6cb353aa13eac4b.png"></a> <strong><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; ;'>They </span><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; ;'>might</span><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; ;'> be finishing the meeting soon so I'd better finish my coffee.</span><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; ; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;'> </span></strong></span></p><p><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; ; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;'><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: ZH-CN; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; ; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;'><a class="various" href="https://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/6_509d9220e524d3337a0ad8cf1b2c14db.jpg" rel="image_show"><img width="197" height="273" id="6" style="width: 89px; height: 116px;" alt="meeting plan architect blueprints reunion" src="https://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/6_509d9220e524d3337a0ad8cf1b2c14db.jpg"></a> <strong><span style='color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; ;'>We </span><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; ;'>might</span><span style='color: black; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; ;'> have to put an extra fire door here to comply with regulations.</span></strong></span></span></p><span></span> <p><img height="99" id="560" style="width: 98px; height: 73px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/560_3f58dfd352d29b503b22b3e577c105b5.jpg"> <b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'>May</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB;'> I recommend the dish of the day?</span></b><b><span lang="EN-US" style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt;'> </span></b></p><p> <strong><img height="223" id="542" style="width: 95px; height: 136px;" alt="Image" src="http://www.e-exercises.com/img/bibliotheque/542_a3a854c6112a0bbdc6c7f816353172b5.jpg"></strong> "<font face="arial"><span><font color="#0000cc"><span><strong><font face="arial">May</font><font color="#000000" face="arial"> I have one more?</font><font color="#000000"> </font></strong></span></font></span></font><font color="#0000cc"><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><strong><font color="#000000">You certainly </font><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 204);">may</span></strong><font color="#000000"><strong> not!"</strong></font></span></font></p><p><font color="#000000"><span lang="EN-US" style='line-height: 115%; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA;'><strong><br></strong></span></font></p></html> =====Some common expressions===== <html> <table style="border: currentColor; border-image: none; border-collapse: collapse; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-border-alt: solid #5B9BD5 1.0pt; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;" border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"> <tbody><tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 0; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes;"> <td width="198" valign="top" style="background: rgb(91, 155, 213); border-width: 1pt 0px 0px 1pt; border-style: solid none none solid; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 118.8pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: background1; ;'>Expression</span></b></p> </td> <td width="284" valign="top" style="background: rgb(91, 155, 213); border-width: 1pt 0px 0px; border-style: solid none none; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 6cm; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: background1; ;'>Meaning</span></b></p> </td> <td width="317" valign="top" style="background: rgb(91, 155, 213); border-width: 1pt 1pt 0px 0px; border-style: solid solid none none; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 189.9pt; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-background-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: white; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; mso-themecolor: background1; ;'>Example</span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 1;"> <td width="198" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 0px 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 118.8pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>Pigs </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> fly.</span></b></p> </td> <td width="284" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 0px; border-style: solid none; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6cm; background-color: transparent; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>Used to say something is very unlikely</span></b></p> </td> <td width="317" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 189.9pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>"I </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> work on that report after dinner tonight."</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>"Yes and pigs </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> fly."</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 2;"> <td width="198" valign="top" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 118.8pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>'</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>Might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>/</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>may</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> as well' (+ </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(112, 48, 160); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>bare infinitive</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>)</span></b></p> </td> <td width="284" valign="top" style="padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none; width: 6cm; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>Indicates that it is better to do something than not - it shows no strong preference. </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></p> </td> <td width="317" valign="top" style="border-width: 0px 1pt 0px 0px; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 189.9pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>"Shall we go to the office party?"</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>"We</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> might</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> as well; there's nothing else to do tonight."</span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 3;"> <td width="198" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 0px 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 118.8pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>Come what </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>may</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>.</span></b></p> </td> <td width="284" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 0px; border-style: solid none; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6cm; background-color: transparent; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>Whatever happens. </span></b></p> </td> <td width="317" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 189.9pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>Come what </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>may</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>, I'm going to finish this report by the end of the week.</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 4;"> <td width="198" valign="top" style="border-width: 0px 0px 0px 1pt; border-style: none none none solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 118.8pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>Be that as it</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> may</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>. </span></b></p> </td> <td width="284" valign="top" style="padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border: 0px rgb(0, 0, 0); border-image: none; width: 6cm; background-color: transparent;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>Even so/nevertheless.</span></b></p> </td> <td width="317" valign="top" style="border-width: 0px 1pt 0px 0px; border-style: none solid none none; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 189.9pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>Sorry to hear of your troubles but, be that as it </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>may</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>, I still need you to be in the office on time. </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 5;"> <td width="198" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 0px 1pt 1pt; border-style: solid none solid solid; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 118.8pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>subject + '</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>may</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> well have' + </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(112, 48, 160); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>past participle</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> </span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> </span></b></p> </td> <td width="284" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 0px; border-style: solid none; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 6cm; background-color: transparent; mso-border-top-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>It is probable that something has been done but I don't remember.</span></b></p> </td> <td width="317" valign="top" style="border-width: 1pt 1pt 1pt 0px; border-style: solid solid solid none; border-color: rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 189.9pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>"You said you wouldn't be here tonight."</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>"I </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>may</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> well have said that but here I am."</span></b><b><span style='color: red; font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> </span></b></p> </td> </tr> <tr style="mso-yfti-irow: 6; ;"> <td width="198" valign="top" style="border-width: 0px 0px 1pt 1pt; border-style: none none solid solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 118.8pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-left-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>You </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>may</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> well ask.</span></b></p> </td> <td width="284" valign="top" style="border-width: 0px 0px 1pt; border-style: none none solid; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; border-image: none; width: 6cm; background-color: transparent; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>To say that you want the same question to be answered.</span></b></p> </td> <td width="317" valign="top" style="border-width: 0px 1pt 1pt 0px; border-style: none solid solid none; border-color: rgb(0, 0, 0) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(91, 155, 213) rgb(0, 0, 0); padding: 0cm 5.4pt; width: 189.9pt; background-color: transparent; mso-border-right-themecolor: accent1; mso-border-bottom-themecolor: accent1;"> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>"Where are Susan and Trevor? They were supposed to be here early."</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>"You </span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>may</span></b><b><span style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'> well ask. They left home over an hour ago."</span></b></p> <p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-GB" style='color: rgb(51, 51, 51); font-family: "Helvetica",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;'> </span></p> </td> </tr> </tbody></table><p> <br></p><p style="margin: 0cm 0cm 7.5pt;"><b><span style='color: rgb(0, 0, 204); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; ;'>See also</span></b></p><p> <b><span style='color: rgb(112, 48, 160); font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 10pt; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; ;'>Could</span></b><br></p></html> [[en:grammar:home|{{ :file_-_back_3_.png?150 }}]]