A. We use may and might to talk about possible actions or happenings in the future:
* I
haven't decided yet where to spend my holidays. I may go to Ireland. (= perhaps
I will go to Ireland)
* Take
an umbrella with you when you go out. It might rain later. (= perhaps it will
rain)
* The
bus doesn't always come 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):
* Ann
may not come to the party tonight. She isn't well. (= perhaps she will not
come)
* There
might not be a meeting on Friday because the director is ill. (= perhaps there
will not be a meeting)
B.
Usually it doesn't matter whether you 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 (not may) when the situation is not real:
* If I
knew them better, I might invite them to dinner. (The situation here is not
real because I don't know them very well, so I'm not going to invite them. 'May'
is not possible in this example.)
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 football on television.
* Don't
phone at 8.30. I might be watching (or I may be watching) the football on
television. (= perhaps I'll be watching it)
For will
be ~ing see Unit 24.
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) to Ireland...' with little difference of
meaning.
D.
Might as well/may as well
Study
this example:
Helen
and Clare have just missed the bus. The buses run every hour.
Helen:
What shall we do? Shall we walk?
Clare:
We might as well. It's a nice day and I don't want to wait here for an hour.
'(We)
might as well do something'= (We) should do something because there is nothing
better to do and there is no reason not to do it.
You can
also say 'may as well'.
* A:
What time are you going?
B: Well,
I'm ready, so I might as well go now. (or ... I may as well go now)
* The
buses are so expensive these days, you might as well get a taxi. (= taxis are
just as good, no more expensive)
EXERCISES
30.
Write sentences with may or might.
1. Where
are you going for your holidays? (to Ireland???)
I
haven't decided yet. _I may 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. Where
are you going to hang that picture? (in the dining room???)
I
haven't made up my mind yet. ---
5. When
is Tom coming to see us? (on Saturday???)
I don't
know yet. ---
6. What
is Julia going to do when she leaves school? (go to university???)
She
hasn't decided yet. ---
30.2
Complete the sentences using might + one of these verbs:
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. I
don't want the children to play in this room. They --- something.
30.3
Complete the sentences using might be able to or might have to + a suitable
verb.
1. I
can't help you but why don't you ask Jill? She _might be able to help_ you.
2. I can't
meet you this evening but I --- you tomorrow evening.
3 I'm
not working on Saturday but I --- on Sunday.
4.
George isn't well. He --- to hospital for an operation.
30.4
Write sentences with may not or might not.
1. (I
don't know if Ann will come to the party.) Ann might not come to the party.
2. (I
don't know if I'll go out this evening.) I ---
3. (I
don't know if Tom will like the present I bought for him.)
Tom ---
4. (I
don't know if Sue will be able to meet us this evening.) ---
30.5
Read the situations and make sentences with may/might as well.
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 waik._
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're in a cafe with a friend. You've finished your drinks. It's a nice cafe
and there is no reason to go now, so why not have another drink? You say: We
---. What would you like?
4. You
and a friend are at home. You are bored. There's a film on TV starting in a few
minutes. You say: ---. There's nothing else to do.
the answer
30.1
2 I
may/might buy a Mercedes.
3 I
may/might go to London.
4 I
may/might hang it in the dining room.
5 He
may/might come on Saturday.
6 She
may/might go to university.
30.2
2 might
wake
3 might
bite
4 might
need
5 might
slip
6 might
break
30.3
2 might
be able to meet/see
3 might
have to work
4 might
have to go
30.4
2 I
may/might not go out this evening.
3 Tom
may/might not like the present I bought for him.
4 Sue
may/might not be able to meet us this evening.
30.5
2
may/might as well go
3
may/might as well have another drink
4 We
may/might as well watch it. or ... watch the film.
