Intermediate grammar · Unit 30 · B2

may and might 2

Modals

Use may or might for things that will possibly happen, might (not may) for situations that are not real, may/might be -ing for possible plans, and might as well when there is no better alternative.

Go to the exercises

A may and might for possible future events

We use may and might to talk about possible actions or happenings in the future.

The negative forms are may not and might not (mightn't).

Sentence Certainty
I'm going to buy a new bike. for sure
I may buy a new bike. / I might buy a new bike. possible
  • I haven't decided where to spend New Year. I may go to Edinburgh. (= perhaps I will go there)
  • Bring a jumper. It might get cold after dark. (= perhaps it will get cold)
  • The ferry is often late. We might have to wait a while. (= perhaps we will have to wait)
  • Jake may not come to football tonight. He's hurt his knee. (= perhaps he will not come)
  • There might not be enough chairs for everybody. (= perhaps there will not be enough)

B may or might? Usually either, except when it is not real

Usually you can use may or might.

When the situation is not real, however, we use might, not may. In "If the bus were cheaper, I might take it more often", the bus is not cheaper, and so I am not going to take it more often.

  • I may go to Edinburgh. / I might go to Edinburgh.
  • Tom might be able to lend you a drill. / Tom may be able to lend you a drill.
  • If the bus were cheaper, I might take it more often. (not I may take it)
  • If my knees were younger, I might take up running.

C may/might be -ing

Compare may/might be -ing with will be -ing: the first is possible, the second is expected.

We also use may/might be -ing for possible plans.

Sentence Meaning
I'm moving to Bristol in the spring. for sure
I might be moving (or I may be moving) to Bristol in the spring. possible
  • Don't ring at seven. I'll be having my tea.
  • Don't ring at seven. I might be having my tea. (= perhaps I will be having it)

D might as well

Gethin and Rosie have just watched the last bus to Llandudno pull away. The next one is in an hour.

"Shall we walk?" "We might as well. It's a dry evening and I'd rather not stand here for an hour."

We might as well do something = we should do it because there is no better alternative. There is no reason not to do it. You can also say may as well. It is the grammar of a shrug.

  • "When are you setting off?" "Well, the bags are packed, so I might as well go now." (or ... I may as well go now.)
  • Parking in town costs a fortune these days. You might as well get a taxi. (= a taxi is as good and costs no more)

Exercises

30.1 Which alternative makes sense?

  1. A: Where are you spending Christmas? B: I haven't decided yet. ___ to my sister's. (I might go / I'm going)

    I might go

    Where are you spending Christmas? I haven't decided yet. I might go to my sister's.

  2. A: Have you chosen a name for the puppy? B: Yes. ___ her Biscuit. (We might call / We're going to call)

  3. A: When is Gran coming over? B: She hasn't said yet. ___ at the weekend. (She might come / She's coming)

  4. A: What are you doing with that old sofa? B: I'm not sure yet. ___ it to the charity shop. (I might give / I'm going to give)

  5. A: What's Callum going to do after his A levels? Does he know yet? B: Yes, he's decided. ___ the army. (He might join / He's going to join)

  6. A: Have you got any plans for the bank holiday? B: Nothing definite. ___ to the coast. (We might go / We're going)

30.2 Complete the sentences using might + a verb from the box.

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  1. Bring the washing in from the line. It might rain before tea.

    Bring the washing in from the line. It might rain before tea.

  2. Don't let the dog bark. He the twins.

  3. Don't fill that mug right to the top. You it.

  4. Take some cash with you as well as your card. You it.

  5. Don't talk about the surprise party in the office. Somebody you.

  6. Mind the steps down to the harbour. They're covered in seaweed and you .

30.3 Complete the sentences. Use might be able to or might have to + one of these verbs.

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  1. Send me the details of the problem. I might be able to help you.

    Send me the details of the problem. I might be able to help you.

  2. I'll come to the parents' evening, but I early to collect Josh from swimming.

  3. I'm busy on Thursday, but I you on Friday for a coffee.

  4. I don't know whether parking at the hospital is free. We .

  5. The waiting room is packed this morning. We for ages.

  6. "My laptop keeps freezing." "Leave it with me. I it."

30.4 Write sentences with might not.

  1. Tom has a terrible cold. I'm not sure that he will come to rehearsal. (Tom ...)

    Tom might not come to rehearsal.

    Tom might not come to rehearsal.

  2. My cousin has grown a huge beard. I don't know if I will recognise him. (I might ...)

  3. We'd love to see the band, but I don't know whether we'll be able to get tickets. (We ...)

  4. I promised to cook tonight, but it's possible that I won't have time. (I ...)

  5. I've been invited to the school reunion, but I'm not sure that I'll be able to go. (I ...)

30.5 Read the situations and complete what you say with might as well and the verb in brackets.

  1. You and a friend have just missed the ferry. The next one leaves in two hours.

    We'll be here for ages. We might as well get (get) something to eat while we wait.

    We'll be here for ages. We might as well get something to eat while we wait.

  2. Your printer has broken. Repairing it would cost more than a new one.

    It's not worth fixing. I (buy) a new one.

  3. You have just cut the front hedge and the trimmer is still charged, so why not do the back hedge as well?

    I (do) the back one too. The battery's still full.

  4. You and your flatmate are at home and bored. A quiz show starts on the telly in five minutes.

    We (watch) it. There's nothing else to do.

See also