Unit 30: MAY AND MIGHT

May and might are modal verbs. Unit 27 shows you how to make correct sentences with them. This unit shows you when to use them.

Possibility

NOW

EXAMPLE: I don't know where John is but he might be helping a customer.

NOTICE: The stores may be very busy. = today
BUT: The stores can be very busy. = generally

FUTURE

EXAMPLE: Clothing prices might fall again soon.

NOTICE: also may

PAST

EXAMPLE: I think you may have got a good deal.

NOTICE: also might; also could (Unit 29)


Permission

STATEMENT

EXAMPLE: Customers may enter the store from 9:00 to 5:00 each day.

REQUEST

EXAMPLES:
May
I come in?
May we think about it for a few days?

NOTICE: May only; do NOT use might
NOTICE: more polite than can (Unit 28) or could (Unit 29)


Might with past tense

We use might (NOT may) in sentences with a past tense verb before the modal (Unit 63).

EXAMPLES:
I thought that store might be busy so I went to a different one.
He told me that the next sale at the store might be very big.

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Exercise 30.1
Exercise 30.2