1

Unit
2 9 might
W M Uk m
He m ight go to N ew York.
(= it is possible that he will go to N ew Yo rk)
It m ight rain.
(= it is possible that it will rain)
m ight + in fin it ive (m ight go / m ight be / m ight rain etc.):
l/ w e/ you/ they
he/ she/ it
m ight (n o t )
be
go
play
com e etc.
I m ight = it is possible that I will:
O
O
o
o
I m ight go to the cinem a this evening, but I'm not sure. (= it is possible that I will go)
a : W hen is Rebecca going to phone you?
b: I don't know. She m ight phone this afternoon.
Take an um brella w ith you. It m ight rain.
Buy a lottery ticket. You m ight be lucky. (= perhaps you will be lucky)
a: Are you going o ut tonight?
b: I might. (= I m ight go o ut)
Study the difference:
O
O
I'm playing tennis tom orrow, (su re)
I m ight play tennis tom orro w, (p o ssib le)
Rebecca is going to phone later, (su re)
Rebecca m ight phone later, (p o ssib le)
I m ight not = it is possible that I will not:
O
I m ight not go to w o rk tom orrow.
(= it is possible that I will not go)
O Sue m ight not com e to the party.
(= it is possible that she will not co m e)
may
You can use m ay in the sam e way. I m ay = I might:
O I m ay go to the cinem a this evening. (= I m ight go)
O Sue m ay not com e to the party. (= Sue m ight not co m e)
M ay I ... ? = Is it O K to ... ? / Can I ... ?:
O M ay I ask a question? (= is it O K to ask / can I ask?)
O 'M ay I sit here?' 'Yes, o f course.'
68 ( will Units 27- 28 can -► Unit 30