the use of may, might, must

8/6/2019 The Use of May, Might, Must

1/13

MODALS TO TALK ABOUT

POSSIBILITY, CONCLUSIONS AND ABILITY

May I go to the bathroom?

Call them now, you might kill two birds with one

stone.

I guess that car must cost you an arm and a leg.

Im not able to take the bull by the horns.


2/13

The use of MAY

May I go to the bathroom?

"May" is most commonly used to express possibility. It

can also be used to give or request permission, although

this usage is becoming less common.

Examples:

Cheryl may be at home, or perhaps at work. POSSIBILITY

Johnny, you may leave the table when you have finishedyour dinner. GIVE PERMISSION

May I use your bathroom? REQUEST PERMISSION


3/13

Using "May" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Check the chart belowto learn how "may" behaves in different contexts.

Modal UsePositive Forms

1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future

Negative Forms

1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future You canalso use:

may

POSSIBILITY

1. Jack may be upset. I can't really tell if he is

annoyed or tired.

2. Jack may have been upset. I couldn't really

tell if he was annoyed or tired.

3. Jack may get upset if you don't tell him thetruth.

1. Jack may not be upset. Perhaps he is tired.

2. Jack may not have been upset. Perhaps he

was tired.

3. Jack may not get upset, even if you tell him the

truth

might

may

GIVE

PERMISSION

1. You may leave the table now that you're

finished with your dinner.

2. SHIFT TO "BE ALLOWED TO"

You were allowed to leave the table after you

finished your dinner.3. You may leave the table when you finish your

dinner.

1. You may not leave the table. You're not

finished with your dinner yet.

2. SHIFT TO "BE ALLOWED TO"

You were not allowed to leave the table because

you hadn't finished your dinner.3. You may not leave the table until you are

finished with your dinner.

can

may

REQUEST

PERMISSION

May I borrow your eraser?

May I make a phone call?

REQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE.

NO NEGATIVE FORMS can,

might


4/13

"Might" is most commonly used to express possibility. It isalso often used in conditional sentences. English speakers canalso use "might" to make suggestions or requests, although

this is less common in American English.

Examples:

Your purse might be in the living room.POSSIBILITY

If I didn't have to work, I might go with you. CONDITIONAL

You might visit the botanical gardens during your visit.SUGGESTION

Might I borrow your pen? REQUEST

The use of MIGHTCall them now, you might kill two

birds with one stone.


5/13

Using "May" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Check the chart belowto learn how "may" behaves in different contexts.

Modal Use Positive Forms1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future

Negative Forms1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future

You can alsouse:

might

POSSIBILITY

1. She might be on the bus. I think her

car is having problems.

2. She might have taken the bus. I'm

not sure how she got to work.

3. She might take the bus to get home.

I don't think Bill will be able to give her

a ride.

1. She might not be on the bus. She might be

walking home.

2. She might not have taken the bus. She

might have walked home.

3. She might not take the bus. She might get

a ride from Bill.

could,

may

might

CONDITIONAL OF

MAY

1. If I entered the contest, I might

actually win.

2. If I had entered the contest, I might

actually have won.

3. If I entered the contest tomorrow, I

might actually win. Unfortunately, I

can't enter it.

1. Even if I entered the contest, I might not

win.

2. Even if I had entered the contest, I might

not have won.

3. Even if I entered the contest tomorrow, I

might not win.


6/13

might

SUGGESTION

1. NO PRESENT FORM

2. You might have tried thecheese cake.

3. You might try the cheesecake.

1. NO PRESENT FORM

2. PAST FORM UNCOMMON

3. You might not want to eat the

cheese cake. It's very calorific.

could

might

REQUEST

Might I have something to drink?

Might I borrow the stapler?

REQUESTS USUALLY REFER TO THE NEAR FUTURE.

NEGATIVEFORMS UNCOMMON could,

may,

can

REMEMBER: "Might not" vs. "Could not"

"Might not" suggests you do not know if something happens. "Could not" suggests that it is

impossible for something to happen.

Examples:

Jack might not have the key. MAYBE HE DOES NOT HAVE THE KEY.

Jack could not have the key. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE THAT HE HAS THE KEY


7/13


8/13

Modal Use Positive Forms1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future

Negative Forms

1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future

You can also use:

must

CERTAINTY

1. That must be Jerry. They said he

was tall with bright red hair.2. That must have been the right

restaurant. There are no other

restaurants on this street.

3. NO FUTUREFORM

1. That must not be Jerry. He is supposed to

have red hair.2. That must not have been the right

restaurant. Iguess there is another one

around here somewhere.

3. NO FUTUREFORM

have to

must not

PROHIBITION

You must not swim in that r iver. It's full of

crocodiles.You must not forget to take your malaria

medication while your are in the tropics.

PROHIBITION USUALLY REFERTO THE NEAR FUTURE.

must

STRONG

RECOMMENDATION

1. You must take some time off and

get some rest.

2. SHIFTTO "SHOULD"

You should have taken some time off

last week to get some rest.

3. SHIFTTO "SHOULD"

You should take some time off next

week to get some rest.

1. You mustn't drink so much. It's not good

for your health.

2. SHIFTTO "SHOULD"

You shouldn't have drunk so much. That

caused the accident.

3. SHIFTTO "SHOULD"

You shouldn't drink at the party. You are

going to be the designated driver.

should


9/13

mustNECESSITY

1. Youmust have a permit to

enter the national park.

2. SHIFT TO "HAVE TO"

We had to have a permi

t to enterthe park.

3. We must get a permit to enter

the park next week.


We don't have to get a permit to enter the

national park.

2. SHIFT TO "HAVE TO"We didn't have to get a permit to enter

the national park.


We won't have to get a permit to enter

the national park.

have to

REMEMBER: "Must not" vs. "Do not have to"

"Must not" suggests that you are prohibited from doing something. "Do not have to"

suggests that someone is not required to do something.

Examples:

You must not eat that. IT IS FORBIDDEN, IT IS NOT ALLOWED.

You don't have to eat that. YOU CAN IFYOU WANT TO, BUT IT IS NOT NECESSARY.


10/13

The use of BE ABLE TOThis time, Im not able to take the bull by the horns.

Although we look at be able to here, it is not a modal verb.

It is simply the verb be plus an adjective (able) followed by the infinitive.We look at be able to here because we sometimes use it instead ofcan

and could.

We use be able to: to talk about ability

Check in the chart the structure ofbe able to.

SUBJECT

BE

MAIN VERB

ABLE

ADJECTIVE INFINITIVE

+ I am able to drive.

- She isn't able to drive.

? Are you able to drive?

Notice that be able to is possible in all tenses, for example:I was able to drive...

I will be able to drive...

I have been able to drive...

Notice too that be able to has an infinitive form:I would like to be able to speak Chinese.


11/13

PRACTICE:Fill in the blanks with the correct modal.

1. George has travelled a lot. He ____________ speak many languages.

2. I can hear you quite well. You ____________ not shout.

3. Im not sure where I will go for my holidays but I ____________ go to Italy.

4. She ____________ ride her bike at night without lights. It's not allowed.

5. She ____________ not eat so much chocolate because it's bad for herfigure.

6. I ____________ understand him. He should speak louder.

7. It's later than I thought. I ____________ go now.

8. You ____________ a better trainer if you want to improve yourself.

9. Talk to Ann about your problems. I'm sure she ____________ help you.

10. You ____________ not vacuum the carpets, Carol has already done it.


12/13


13/13

Sources:http://www.englishpage.com/modals/might.html

http://www.englishclub.com/grammar/verbs-modals_can_3.htm

For extra practice go to:

http://www.agendaweb.org/http://www.english-4u.de/grammar_exercises.htm

the use of may, might, must

Documents