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Might and may for possibility

A2 · 40 exercises

The rule in short

How to use might and may to say that something is possible now or in the future, how to make the negative, how to ask about possibility, and the difference between maybe and may be.

Might and may are modal verbs, like can, will and should. They follow the same three rules: one form for every subject, the base verb after them with no to, and no do in negatives.

SubjectPositiveNegativeShort answer
I, you, he, she, it, we, theyShe might win. / She may win.She might not win. / She may not win.She might. / She may not.
  • No -s: she might win, not she mights win or she might wins.
  • No to: I might go, not I might to go.
  • No do: the negative adds not straight after the modal: I might not go, not I don't might go.

Write the negative in full: might not, may not. (Mightn't exists in British speech but is rare, and mayn't is very old-fashioned.) A short answer is just the subject and the modal: Will you be at home tonight? — I may not.

Questions. In everyday English people rarely ask about possibility with might or may; Might it rain? sounds formal. The usual question is Do you think…?: Do you think Tom will come? Do you think it might rain? A question that starts with May I…? has a different meaning: it is a polite way to ask for permission (May I use your phone?). For asking permission, see also Can I…? in the lesson on can and can't.

Maybe or may be? Maybe is one word. It is an adverb that means "perhaps", and it usually comes at the start: Maybe Tom is at the gym. May be is two words: the modal may and the verb be. It comes after the subject: Tom may be at the gym. Both sentences mean the same, but the spelling and the word order are different. For a future action, maybe goes with will: Maybe I'll call you later means the same as I might call you later.

For a sure prediction, see the lesson on will. Later, at B1, you will use might and must to make guesses about the past (Tom might have forgotten); see modals of deduction.

Examples

  • Take your umbrella. It might rain on the way home.
  • Ask Anna about the bus times. She may know.
  • We might go to the lake on Sunday, but we haven't decided yet.
  • I might not finish this book this week. It's very long.
  • The bakery may close early today because it's a holiday tomorrow.
  • Anna may not come this evening. She has a cold.
  • It could snow tonight, so drive carefully.
  • Maybe Anna is busy. = Anna may be busy.
  • Are you coming to the match? — I might. I'm not sure yet.
  • Do you think Anna will win? — She might. She's very fast.

Lesson: “Might and may for possibility” (A2), Krumeto · https://krumeto.com/grammar/might-may · written for Krumeto with the help of AI tools · Worksheet: krumeto.com

KrumetoMight and may for possibilityName ____________________

Exercises

A. Choose the right words.

It ___ snow tonight. → might

  1. Tom ________ late tonight. The roads are very busy. (might be / might is / might to be)
  2. Anna ________ to the party. She isn't sure yet. (may come / mays come / may comes)
  3. We ________ go to the beach tomorrow. The water is still very cold. (might not / don't might / might don't)
  4. My parents ________ visit us in the summer. (might / mights / might to)

B. How sure is the speaker? Choose the best word.

  1. I've already got the tickets, so we ________ see the show on Friday. (will / might)
  2. I don't know my plans for Saturday yet. I ________ visit my aunt. (will / might / won't)
  3. The museum is closed every Monday, and today is Monday. We ________ get in today. (might not / won't)
  4. Anna's train is late. She ________ get here in time, but let's wait and see. (might not / won't)

C. Complete the sentences with might or might not and the verb in brackets. May and may not are also fine.

Take a sandwich. You ___ (get) hungry. → might get

  1. Tom ________ (have) a pen. Ask him.
  2. Anna ________ (not / like) the soup. It's very spicy.
  3. Take your keys. I ________ (not / be) at home when you get back.
  4. Let's buy some food on the way. The café ________ (be) full when we get there.
  5. We ________ (not / have) enough chairs. Can you bring two more?

D. Choose maybe or may be.

  1. ________ Anna is right. (Maybe / May be)
  2. This ________ the last warm day of the year. (maybe / may be)
  3. Where's Tom? — I don't know. ________ he forgot his phone. (Maybe / May be)
  4. The answer ________ on the next page. (maybe / may be)

E. Rewrite the sentences as the words in brackets say. Keep the meaning.

  1. Maybe Anna is in the kitchen. (use might or may)
  2. Maybe Anna will call tonight. (use might or may)
  3. Maybe they won't sell their car. (use might not or may not)
  4. Tom might be at home now. (begin with Maybe)
  5. Maybe it will snow tomorrow. (question beginning with Do you think)

F. Put the words in order to make sentences, not questions. Use all the words.

  1. not / might / go / out / we / tonight
  2. library / may / at / be / Anna / the
  3. better / tomorrow / weather / the / be / might
  4. us / my / sister / with / come / may / not

G. Correct the mistakes. Change only what is wrong. Two of the sentences are already right: keep them as they are.

  1. The bus might comes late today.
  2. Tom doesn't might stay for dinner.
  3. Tom may be at the station already.
  4. Anna isn't here. She can be at the shop.
  5. Maybe Tom will help us.
  6. Tom maybe late for dinner tonight.
  7. I don't might have time tomorrow.
  8. I might to visit my grandmother on Sunday.

H. Match the sentences and what they mean.

    1. Tom will come to the party. ____
    2. Tom will probably come to the party. ____
    3. Tom might come to the party. ____
    4. Tom might not come to the party. ____
    5. Tom won't come to the party. ____
    6. May I come to the party? ____
    1. a) the speaker thinks it will happen
    2. b) the speaker is sure it will happen
    3. c) the speaker thinks it is possible
    4. d) the speaker is sure it won't happen
    5. e) the speaker thinks it is possible that it won't happen
    6. f) the speaker is asking for permission
KrumetoMight and may for possibilityAnswer key

Answer key

A. Might and may are the same for every subject. After them comes the base form of the verb: no -s and no to. The negative is might not / may not, with no do.

  1. might be
  2. may come
  3. might not
  4. might

B. Will: you are sure it will happen. Won't: you are sure it will not happen. Might / might not: it is possible, but you are not sure.

  1. will
  2. might
  3. won't
  4. might not

C. Might / may + the base verb: might know, may be. Negative: might not / may not + the base verb. No to, no -s, no do.

  1. might have / may have
  2. might not like / may not like
  3. might not be / may not be
  4. might be / may be
  5. might not have / may not have

D. Maybe (one word) means "perhaps" and usually starts the sentence; the sentence keeps its own verb. May be (two words) is the modal may + the verb be and comes after the subject.

  1. Maybe
  2. may be
  3. Maybe
  4. may be

E. Maybe + a normal verb = might / may + the base verb: Maybe Tom is at home = Tom might be at home. Maybe … will = might: Maybe Anna will call = Anna might call. To ask about possibility, use Do you think…?

  1. Anna might be in the kitchen. / Anna may be in the kitchen.
  2. Anna might call tonight. / Anna may call tonight.
  3. They might not sell their car. / They may not sell their car.
  4. Maybe Tom is at home now. / Maybe Tom's at home now.
  5. Do you think it will snow tomorrow? / Do you think it might snow tomorrow?

F. Subject + might / may (+ not) + the base verb + the rest. A time phrase can also go at the start.

  1. We might not go out tonight. / Tonight we might not go out.
  2. Anna may be at the library.
  3. The weather might be better tomorrow. / Tomorrow the weather might be better.
  4. My sister may not come with us.

G. Might / may + the base verb: no -s, no to. Negative: might not / may not, with no do. Maybe is one word; may be is the verb. For a guess about one particular time, use might, may or could, not positive can.

  1. The bus might come late today. / The bus may come late today.
  2. Tom might not stay for dinner. / Tom may not stay for dinner.
  3. Tom may be at the station already. (✓) — This sentence is right: may is followed by the base verb be, written as two words.
  4. Anna isn't here. She might be at the shop. / Anna isn't here. She may be at the shop.
  5. Maybe Tom will help us. (✓) — This sentence is right: maybe goes with will for a possible future action. Tom might help us means the same.
  6. Tom may be late for dinner tonight. / Tom might be late for dinner tonight.
  7. I might not have time tomorrow. / I may not have time tomorrow.
  8. I might visit my grandmother on Sunday. / I may visit my grandmother on Sunday.

H. Will: sure yes. Will probably: thinks yes. Might: possible. Might not: possibly no. Won't: sure no. May I…? asks for permission.

  1. 1 b · 2 a · 3 c · 4 e · 5 d · 6 f

Lesson: “Might and may for possibility” (A2), Krumeto · https://krumeto.com/grammar/might-may · written for Krumeto with the help of AI tools · Worksheet: krumeto.com

Might and may for possibility — worksheet | Krumeto