Page 95 - BASIC GRAMMAR PRACTICE

Modals

64 may, might
may and might indicate present or future possibility:
He might arrive soon.
He may arrive soon.
She might be angry if yon do that.
She may be angry if you do that.
May I? or May we? are used for polite requests, in the same way as Can I? or
Can we? {> Exercise 63). It is a very polite form:
May I ask you a question?
May I have a glass of water, please?

Notes
• may is occasionally used in formal English to mean to be allowed to:
Guests may bring husbands or wives if they wish.
May I ask you a question?
• may and might are usually used in question form only with / or we: other persons more
often use the positive with Do you think ...?:
He might be late. —* Do you think he. might be late?
• The negative of may is may not. (NOT mayn't).
The negative of might is might not or mightn't.

Practice

64a Rewrite these sentences using may or might. Where two answers are
possible, write them both.

1 Maybe he'll get a new job.
He might/may get a new job.
2 Do you think I could have one of these cakes?
May I have one of these cakes?

3 Maybe there's some tea in the pot.

4 Would you mind if I asked you how old you are?

5 Visitors are not allowed to stay in the hospital after ten p.m.

6 Do you think I could have one of these sandwiches?

7 I think the car is in the station car park.

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