029 : may and might 1

   A   

Study this example situation:

 

You are looking for Ben. Nobody is sure where he is, but you get some suggestions.

 

He may be in his office. (= perhaps he is in his office)
He might be having lunch. (= perhaps he is having lunch)
Ask Ann. She might know. (= perhaps she knows)

 

We use may or might to say that something is possible. Usually you can use may or might so you can say:

• It may be true.  or  It might be true. (= perhaps it is true)
• She might know.  or  She may know.

 

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

• It may not be true. (= perhaps it isn't true)
• She might not work here any more. (= perhaps she doesn't work here)

 

Study the structure:

I/you/he (etc.)

may might

(not)

be (true / in his office etc.) be (doing / working / having etc.) know / work / want etc.

 

 

   B   

For the past we use may have (done) or might have (done):

• A: I wonder why Kate didn't answer her phone.
  B: She may have been asleep. (= perhaps she was asleep)
• A: I can't find my phone anywhere.
  B: You might have left it at work. (= perhaps you left it at work)
• A: Why wasn't Amy at the meeting yesterday?
  B: She might not have known about it. (= perhaps she didn't know)
• A: I wonder why David was in such a bad mood yesterday.
  B: He may not have been feeling well. (= perhaps he wasn't feeling well)

 

Study the structure:

I/you/he (etc.)

may might

(not) have

been (asleep / at home etc.) been (doing / working / feeling etc.) known / had / wanted / left etc.

 

 

   C   

Could is similar to may and might:

• It's a strange story, but it could be true. (= it is possible that it's true)
• You could have left your phone at work. (= it's possible that you left it there)

 

But couldn't (negative) is different from may not and might not. Compare:

• Sarah couldn't have got my message. Otherwise she would have replied.

    (= it is not possible that she got my message)

• I wonder why Sarah hasn't replied to my message. I suppose she might not have got it.

    (= it's possible that she didn't get it - so perhaps she did, perhaps she didn't)