Unit 30. May and might 2.

Unit 30- Part A

We 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

Usually you 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) when the situation is not real:
•    If I were in Tom’s position, I might look for another job.
The situation here is not real because I am not in Tom’s position (so I’m not going to look for another job). May is not possible in this example.

Unit 30- Part C

There is also a continuous form: may / might be -ing.
Compare this with will be -ing:
•    Don’t phone at 8.30. I’ll be watching 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 little difference in meaning.

Unit 30- Part D

Might as well Rose and Clare have just missed the bus. The buses run every hour.

•     A: What time are you going out?        B: Well, I’m ready, so I might as well go now. •     Buses are so expensive these days, you may as well get a taxi.  (= taxis are as good, no more expensive)

Exercises

{slide=1 Write sentences with might.}Write sentences with might.
{tooltip}Key.{end-link}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.{end-tooltip}

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. _______________________ {/slide} {slide=2 Complete the sentences.}Complete the sentences using might + the following:
{tooltip}Key.{end-link}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.{end-tooltip}

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. {/slide} {slide=3 Complete the sentences.}Complete the sentences using might be able to or might have to + a suitable verb.
{tooltip}Key.{end-link}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.{end-tooltip}

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.

{/slide} {slide=4 Write sentences with might not.}Write sentences with might not.
{tooltip}Key.{end-link}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.{end-tooltip}

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.
      _______________________________ {/slide} {slide=5 Read the situations and make sentences.}Read the situations and make sentences with might as well.
{tooltip}Key.{end-link}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.{end-tooltip}

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 the concert, but you decide to go.
      You say:  I __________________ to the concert. It’s a pity 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. {/slide}

Unit 29      Unit 30     Unit 31