Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 29 · B1

may and might 1

Use may or might to say that something is possibly true now, and may have or might have (done) to say that it was possibly true in the past; could works in the positive, while couldn't means something quite different.

Start the lesson

11Steps · about 21 minutes

In this lesson

may and might: perhaps it is trueA2 screens of questions
may have and might have (done): perhaps it happenedB3 screens of questions
could, may not and couldn'tC1 screen of questions

Point A of 3

may and might: perhaps it is true

You are looking for Ruth. Nobody knows where she is, although everybody has a theory:

  • She may be in the staffroom. (= perhaps she is in the staffroom)
  • She might be having a cigarette outside. (= perhaps she is having one)
  • Ask Kevin. He might know. (= perhaps he knows)

may and might both mark something as possible. Here they are interchangeable; nobody will notice which you pick.

The negatives are may not and might not.

Subject may / might (not) Verb
I / you / he (etc.) may (not) be (true / in the staffroom)
might be -ing (doing / working / having)
know / work / want (etc.)

Keep may be (two words: may + verb) apart from maybe (one word: perhaps).

  • That rumour may be right. / That rumour might be right. (= perhaps it is right)
  • Kevin might know. / Kevin may know.
  • That rumour may not be right. (= perhaps it isn't right)
  • Kevin might not know. (= perhaps he doesn't know)
  • "Is the café open on Sundays?" "Maybe. I'm not sure."

Point A · Exercise 29.1 · part 1 of 2

Complete the conversations. Choose from the box.

Use these

may be Leanne'smay not be feeling wellmay not be possiblemight be in the shedmight be Polishmight be drivingmight have onemight know

  1. Example

    A: Do you know where Grandad is? B: I'm not sure. He might be in the shed.

    AnswerDo you know where Grandad is? I'm not sure. He might be in the shed.

  2. A: Is there a cash machine near here? B: I'm not sure, but ask the man in the paper shop. He .

  3. A: Where is that couple at the next table from? B: I've no idea. They .

  4. A: Can you get me a seat on Saturday's coach? B: I'll try, but it .

  5. A: Whose umbrella is this? B: It isn't mine. It .

Point A · Exercise 29.1 · part 2 of 2

Complete the conversations. Choose from the box.

Use these

may be Leanne'smay not be feeling wellmay not be possiblemight be in the shedmight be Polishmight be drivingmight have onemight know

  1. A: Why isn't Mum answering her phone? B: She .

  2. A: Do you know anybody with a ladder I could borrow? B: Dave , but I'm not sure.

  3. A: Lily is very quiet today. B: Yes, she is. She .

Point B of 3

may have and might have (done): perhaps it happened

Possibility in the past takes may have or might have + past participle.

Subject may / might (not) have Past participle
I / you / he (etc.) may (not) have been (asleep / at home)
might been -ing (doing / working / feeling)
known / had / wanted / left (etc.)
  • "I wonder why Marcus didn't open the door." "He may have been in the bath." (= perhaps he was)
  • "I can't find my car keys anywhere." "You might have left them in your coat." (= perhaps you left them there)
  • "Why wasn't Holly at choir practice?" "Perhaps nobody told her. She might not have heard about it." (= perhaps she didn't hear)
  • "Why was Uncle Rob so quiet at lunch?" "He may not have been sleeping well lately." (= perhaps he hasn't been sleeping well)

Point B · Exercise 29.2 · part 1 of 3

Complete each answer using the verb in brackets.

  1. Example

    A: Where's Ruth? B: I'm not sure. She might be having a cigarette outside. (have)

    AnswerWhere's Ruth? I'm not sure. She might be having a cigarette outside.

  2. A: Who was that woman with Craig on Saturday? B: I'm not sure. It may his cousin. (be)

  3. A: Has the parcel come? B: I can't see it. It may not yet. (arrive)

  4. A: Nisha said she'd meet us at the gate, but she isn't here. B: She might in the car park. I'll go and look. (wait)

  5. A: How did Mum find out that I'd scraped the car? B: I don't know. I suppose Ellie may her. (tell)

Point B · Exercise 29.2 · part 2 of 3

Complete each answer using the verb in brackets.

  1. A: Is Martin still at the cricket club? B: He was there earlier, but he might home by now. (go)

  2. A: What's Kyle doing up in his room? B: I'm not sure. He might for his exams. (revise)

  3. A: Does Cath have any children? B: I'm not sure. I think she may a son at university. (have)

  4. A: I can't find my reading glasses. Have you seen them? B: You may them at the optician's this morning. (leave)

Point B · Exercise 29.2 · part 3 of 3

Complete each answer using the verb in brackets.

  1. A: I knocked on Jordan's door, but he didn't answer. I know he was in. B: He might not you. (hear)

  2. A: Sian said she'd be here at seven, and it's half past. B: She may . She's hopeless with dates. (forget)

Point C of 3

could, may not and couldn't

Could is similar to may and might in the positive.

Couldn't, however, is not the negative of may and might. It says that something is not possible, which is a much firmer claim than may not or might not.

Sentence Meaning
Jamal couldn't have read my email. He would have answered by now. It is not possible that he read it.
Why hasn't Jamal answered? I suppose he might not have read my email. It is possible that he did not read it. Perhaps he did, perhaps he did not.
  • I know it sounds unlikely, but it could be right. (= it is possible that it's right)
  • You could have left your keys in your coat. (= it is possible that you left them there)

Point C · Exercise 29.3

Complete the answers using might not have ... or couldn't have ...

  1. Example

    A: I was surprised Rob didn't reply to the invitation. Perhaps he didn't get it. B: Maybe. He might not have got it.

    AnswerI was surprised Rob didn't reply to the invitation. Perhaps he didn't get it. Maybe. He might not have got it.

  2. A: I wonder why Leah went home early. Perhaps she wasn't feeling well. B: It's possible. She well.

  3. A: How did the window get broken? Was it the wind? B: No, it the wind. There's a cricket ball on the carpet.

  4. A: Saira says she looked for you at the station. B: Well, she very hard. I stood under the clock for an hour.

  5. A: The woman who rang you, are you sure she was from the bank? B: No, I'm not sure. She .

Lesson 29 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: may and might 2Back to the course

–Right

Each point

A. may and might: perhaps it is true–Not checkedB. may have and might have (done): perhaps it happened–Not checkedC. could, may not and couldn't–Not checked