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8.1. Possibility: Present and Future

Not Certain about Present or Future Events

The exam could last two hours. I’m not sure.
It may rain. The sky looks a bit gray. Let’s take an umbrella just in case.
Could/May (Nof)/Might (Not)
You might have to wait until the fall to take Chinese. Ask the professor.

He might not be well today, so he may not come.
Very Certain about Present or Future Events
That can't be Mary. Mary isn’t that tall.
Couldn't/Can’t That couldn't be Bill over there. Bill is much shorter.

1. Modals can be used to express possibility
about something happening now or at
some future time.
a. Could, may, and might express the a. The hurricane may change its path. It might
possibility that something will happen or go south, not east.
that something is true.
b. May nof and might not express the b. He may not come to work today. | hear he’s
possibility that something will not happen having car trouble.
or is not true.
c. Couldn’t and can’t express certainty that c. It couldn't be a bird. It doesn’t have
something is not possible or true. feathers.
He won the lottery? You can't be serious!

2.Do not use contractions for may not or v¥ | may not finish my paper on time.
might not. X |mayn't finish my paper on time.

3.Use could to ask questions about possibility. Where could my wallet be? It’s not in my bag.
Do not use may or might.

4 Rewrite the statements. Use may (not), might (no?), couldn’), or can’t and the words in
parentheses. More than one answer is sometimes possible.

1. It’s possible that next summer will be hotter than usual.
Next summer might be/may be/could be _ (be) hotter than usual.

2. The paper says it’s 120 degrees outside, but I don’t believe it.

It (be) that hot outside.

3. There’s a 50 percent chance that it will snow tomorrow.
It (snow) tomorrow.

4. There’s a chance that you will see red rain someday, but it’s not likely.
You (see) red rain someday.

5. It’s snowing very hard, so it’s possible that we won't have class this afternoon.

We (have) class this afternoon

210 MODALS: PART 2
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