Ampersand Lab

Intermediate grammar · Lesson 30 · B2

may and might 2

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.

Start the lesson

15Steps · about 24 minutes

In this lesson

may and might for possible future eventsA5 screens of questions
may or might? Usually either, except when it is not realB1 screen of questions
may/might be -ingC2 screens of questions
might as wellD1 screen of questions

Point A of 4

may and might for possible future events

may and might also look ahead: they describe future actions or events that are possible but not certain.

The negatives 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)

Point A · Exercise 30.1 · part 1 of 2

Which alternative makes sense?

  1. Example

    A: What are you doing for New Year? B: No idea. I might go to a party at Leo's. (I might go / I'm going)

    AnswerWhat are you doing for New Year? No idea. I might go to a party at Leo'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)

Point A · Exercise 30.1 · part 2 of 2

Which alternative makes sense?

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

Point A · Exercise 30.3 · part 1 of 2

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

Use these

fixhelpleavemeetpaywait

  1. Example

    Email me the error message. I might be able to help you sort it out.

    AnswerEmail me the error message. I might be able to help you sort it out.

  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.

Point A · Exercise 30.3 · part 2 of 2

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

Use these

fixhelpleavemeetpaywait

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

Point A · Exercise 30.4

Write sentences with might not.

  1. Example

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

    Tom might not come to rehearsal.

    AnswerTom might not come to rehearsal.

  2. My cousin has grown a huge beard. Perhaps I won't recognise him. (I might ...)

  3. We'd love to see the band, but tickets are hard to get. Perhaps we won't manage it. (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 working that weekend. Perhaps I won't make it. (I ...)

Point B of 4

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.

Point B · Extra practice

Put in may or might. Where the situation is not real, only might is right.

  1. I'm not sure yet. I go to Edinburgh at the weekend.

  2. If the bus were cheaper, I use it more often.

  3. If I had more time, I learn the guitar.

Point C of 4

may/might be -ing

may/might be -ing is possible; will be -ing is expected.

may/might be -ing also suits plans that are not yet fixed.

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)

Point C · Exercise 30.2 · part 1 of 2

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

Use these

hearneedrainslipspillwake

  1. Example

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

    AnswerBring 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.

Point C · Exercise 30.2 · part 2 of 2

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

Use these

hearneedrainslipspillwake

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

Point D of 4

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 the alternative is an hour at this stop."

We might as well do something = there is nothing better on offer, so we may as well get on with it. may as well means the same. It is the grammar of a shrug.

  • "When are you leaving?" "I've loaded the car, so I might as well set off now." (or ... I may as well set off now.)
  • Parking in the city centre is ridiculous now. You might as well take the tram. (= the tram is no worse and costs no more)

Point D · Exercise 30.5

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

  1. Example

    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.

    AnswerWe'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.

Lesson 30 · Result

How you did

Next lesson: have to and mustBack to the course

–Right

Each point

A. may and might for possible future events–Not checkedB. may or might? Usually either, except when it is not real–Not checkedC. may/might be -ing–Not checkedD. might as well–Not checked