How to Express Probability:maymight,could
A category such as probability is expressed in English by modal verbs - may, might , could. In general, the concept of probability means that the speaker thinks that something is possible, but does not know for sure and implies “maybe, perhaps.” These verbs express a probability of approximately 50%, i.e. it's not very big. If we distribute these verbs according to the degree of expression of probability, then may- expresses a high degree of probability, but could- less than may And might.
Olga may be at home now – Olga is probably home now
He might be at the theatre. – He's probably in the theater
He could be at library or at school. – Perhaps he is in the library or at school.
Negative forms - may not And might not:
Jack might not be in his office. – Jack may not be in the office
I"m not sure whether I can lend you any money. I may not have enough. – I'm not sure if I can lend you money. Maybe I don't have enough (money).
- Verbs May And Could also have other meanings, and Might has only one meaning - probability. (might is used to make a polite request in the same way as May, but the use of Might in this sense is extremely rare.) Since the verbs may and could can have other meanings, it is necessary to take into account the context in which they are used in a given situation.
It is often very difficult to distinguish in what sense a modal verb is used. For example:
You may phone now. - You can call now. (permission)
She may phone soon. - She might call soon. (probability)
John may phone - John can call. (resolution or probability? Since there is no context, it is difficult to understand what is meant)
- However, if after verbs May, Could the infinitive is used be, then this shows us that the meaning of “probability” is used in the sentence. The perfect infinitive of the main verb after these modals communicates that the meaning is "probability":
They may be at home. - Perhaps they are at home.
You may be right. - Maybe you're right.
He could be sleeping now. - He's probably sleeping now.
He may have left already. - He may have already left.
He could have been sleeping when I called him. - Maybe he was sleeping when I called him.
May, might, couldin present and past tense
These modal verbs meaning "probability" are used in two tenses: present And past.
The future tense is usually expressed in present tense forms using adverbs of time relating to the future (tomorrow, soon, in the morning/evening).
Mary may be at office now. - Marie is probably in the office now.
He may leave for Scatland soon. - He may leave for Scotland soon.
She may not know my name. - She may not know my name.
John might be at the school. - John may be at school.
He might go there tomorrow. - He can go there tomorrow.
Liza might not come back soon. - Lisa may not be back soon.
I don't imagine where she could be. - I can't imagine where she could be.
It could be there, but I can"t remember clearly. - It might be there, but I don't remember exactly.
"With a continuous infinitive (ContinuousInfinitive):
Carla may be sleeping now. - Perhaps Carla is sleeping now.
Frank could be still writing his exam at the school at the moment. - Frank is probably still writing his exam at school at the moment.
WITHpassiveinfinitive:
This festival may be opened tomorrow. - Perhaps this festival will open tomorrow
She might be offered a new job. - Perhaps she will be offered a new job.
- To talk about probability in the past we use may c: perfect infinitive, perfect continuous infinitive , perfect passive infinitive
I wonder why Ann didn't answer the doorbell. - I'm surprised Ann didn't answer the phone.
Well, I suppose she may have been asleep. - Well, I guess she was probably asleep.
Why didn't he say hello when he passed us on the street? - Why didn't he say hello when he passed us on the street?
He might have been daydreaming. - Perhaps he was daydreaming (thoughtful and didn’t notice us).
I can"t find my bag anywhere. - I can't find my bag anywhere
You might have left it's in the store. - Perhaps you left it at the store.
I wonder why Jill didn't come to the meeting. - I wonder why Jill didn't come to the meeting
She might not have known about it. - Perhaps she didn't know about it.
It must be remembered that verbs May And Might have their own past tense forms (may have done, might have done), in some cases Might used as a past tense form for May, for example, in indirect speech according to the rules of tense agreement.
It's important to remember that Might used in conditional sentences with an unreal condition to express an assumption, while both May and Might are used in sentences with a real condition to express probability.
If he wrote her the letter, she might forgive him. - If he wrote her a letter, she might forgive him (an unreal condition relating to the present or future)
If he had written her the letter, she might have forgiven him. - If he wrote her a letter, she might forgive him (an unreal condition related to the past)
If he writes her the letter, she may forgive him. - If he writes her a letter, she may forgive him. (real condition relating to the future)
If he writes her the letter, she might forgive him. - If he fixes his car, she might forgive him. (real condition relating to the future)
Important:
Could is also used in conditional sentences with an unreal condition.
May, Might, Could in questions
Verbs May And Might in the meaning of “probability” are not used in questions. For this purpose the following expressions are used: be likely(to be probable, similar); Is it possible? ; Are you sure?
Is she likely to arrive soon? - Is it likely that she will arrive soon?
Are you sure that the store opens at 9? - Are you sure the store opens at 9?
The verb Could is used in questions, but an accurate and clear context is required to distinguish the meaning of “probability” from other meanings of Could.
For example:
Could you be more specific? - Could you (be) more specific? (request)
Could he be lying to us about his past? - Could it be that he is lying to us about his past? (probability)
Could you write her a letter? - Could you write her a letter? (request)
Could he write in English when he was 15? - Could he write in English when he was 15? (ability; here Could is the past tense form of the verb Can)
Could he have written this letter? - Could he have written this letter? (probability)
Important:
Often people who study English make mistakes when asking questions about the likelihood of something. The easiest way to avoid mistakes is to use the phrases - be likely, Is it possible ,Are you sure instead of May, Might, Could in questions.
Negative declarative sentences
May And Might are used in negative declarative sentences to mean that there is a possibility that some action will not happen.
Gary may not be office yet. - Garry may not be in the office yet.
She may not have received my letter. - Perhaps she did not receive my letter.
It might not be true. - Perhaps this is not true.
She might not remember his telephone number. - She may not remember his phone number.
Could in a negative form, usually in combination - couldn't be in the present tense and with the perfect infinitive of the main verb in the past tense, means impossibility, improbability. Cannot is used in the same way and with the same meaning. (Couldn't be considered a more polite or soft form) Couldn't And can"t in this meaning indicate that the speaker strongly believes that something is truly impossible.
It couldn't be true! / It can't be true! - It can not be true!
It couldn"t have been true! / It can"t have been true! - This couldn't be true! / This couldn't be true!
Anton couldn't be lying to us. He is an honest man. - It can't be that Anton is lying to us. He is an honest man.
He couldn't have taken the money! / He can't have taken the money! - It can't be that he took the money! / It can’t be that he took the money!
It couldn't have been Tom. Tom was in Chicago last week. - It couldn't be Tom. Tom was in Chicago last week.
Is this a joke? You can't be serious! - It's a joke? You can't be serious when you say this!
Construction: May, Might, Couldt with “have to” and “be able to”
May, might are also used in combination with "have to" and "be able to".
He may have to go away. - He may have to leave.
John might have to visit her lawyer. - John may have to visit her lawyer
They might be able to help Alice. - Perhaps they can help Alice.
She might not be able to come to the party tomorrow. - She may not be able to come to the party tomorrow.
He might have been able to solve this problem. - Perhaps he could solve this problem.
Substitutes for verbs May, might, could or how to express probability differently
The adverbs maybe (maybe), possibly (perhaps) and the phrase It is possible that (It is possible that) are simple and useful substitutes for modal verbs of this group
Maybe he's still at home. - Maybe he's still at home.
Maybe he was really sick yesterday. - Maybe he was really sick yesterday.
Maybe he will tell us about it. - Maybe he'll tell us about it.
Maybe she didn't go there. - Maybe she didn't go there.
Perhaps he"ll come back. - Perhaps he will return.
It's possible that she doesn't know them. - It is possible that she does not know them.
Good afternoon. In this lesson we will talk about two English words: may and might. Many people have confusion between these words, because these words are connected by one meaning. We will look at examples to clearly show how these words are used in sentences and different situations.
May - be able
Might - be able
Verb May in English
This verb is used in two cases:
1. When we talk about the possibility that something will happen, has happened or is happening.
I can"t find the keys to the house. - Do you think you may have dropped them in the car? I can't find my house keys. - Do you think you might have dropped them in the car? Please note that we are talking about the possibility of an event (what we are talking about is not certain).
You"d better take a cap - it may get cold later. You better take a hat - it might be cold later.
Was that Helga who just walked by? It may have been - I"m not sure. Did Helga just walk by? Perhaps, I'm not sure.
2. To politely ask permission. May is a more polite form than can and could.
May I borrow your car, please? Can I borrow your car?
May I help you? Can I help you?
I can"t decide at the moment, may I have a few days to think about it? I can't decide at the moment, can I think about it for a few days?
Verb Might in English
Might is the same as the first meaning of may. The only difference is that might is used when there is great doubt about what is happening.
I don"t feel well. - Oh, dear, do you think it might be something you"ve eaten? I do not feel well. - Honey, do you think it could be something you ate? The husband feels bad and the wife answers with a hint that it is unlikely that it is from the food. After all, she prepared such a delicious dinner...
MAY is used for all persons in the present tense and relates an action to the present or future tense.
MIGHT is the past tense form of the verb may, used in different meanings in relation to the present, past and future tense.
Negative form: may not (mayn’t), might not (mightn’t).
Interrogative form: may I?, might I? etc.
Interrogative negative form: may I not (mayn’t I)?, might I not (mightn’t I)? etc.
After may, might followed by an infinitive without the particle to. Verb equivalent may - be allowed to (allowed) - used in the past and future tense.
Use of the verb may
1. To express permission.
You may come later.
You can come later. (Means that there is permission for you to come later.)
In the past tense, in such cases the verb to allow is used, but not might.
I may go there today.
I can go there today.
I was allowed to go there yesterday.
I was allowed to go there yesterday.
Might used in this meaning only in indirect speech, when the main verb is in the past tense (Simple Past).
Direct Speech: Didn't say, "They may go there." He said, "They can go there."
Indirect Speech: He said that they might go there. He said they could go there.
2. To express a polite request.
May I use your spade? Can I borrow your shovel?
Direct Speech: Didn't say, "May I use your rake?" He said, “Can I have your rake?”
Indirect Speech: He asked if he might use my rake. He asked if he could take my rake.
BUT: Might- to express a convincing, persistent request.
You might show me what you have done.
Please, show me what you did.
You might tell me where he went.
Well, please tell me where he went.
(Compare the use of might for this purpose with the verb can)
3. To express the possibility (to perform an action):
a) may/might + Present Indefinite expresses the possibility of performing an action in the present or future tense.
These samples may be chosen deliberately.
These samples can be selected (can be selected) randomly.
This may show us whether it is important or not.
This can show whether it is important or not.
He may come today (tomorrow).
He might come today (tomorrow).
Perhaps he will come today (tomorrow).
They may (might) return from school before dinner.
They will probably be back from school before lunch.
b) expresses the possibility of performing an action in the past.
They may/might have gone to do shopping after their work.
They probably (probably) went shopping after work.
He may have returned from his business trip.
He may have returned from a business trip.
4. To express doubt, uncertainty, assumptions of the speaker about possibilities of action.
May/might + Indefinite Infinitive used in relation to present and future tenses, a may/might + Perfect Infinitive- in relation to the past tense, with the Continuous infinitive - if the intended action occurs at the moment of speech, and with the Perfect Continuous infinitive - if the intended action occurs over a period of time. Moreover, compared to may, the verb might expresses a stronger degree of doubt and uncertainty.
Not may write to us. He might write to us.
She may be too busy. She may be very busy.
They may/might have gone to Moscow. They probably (maybe, perhaps) went to Moscow
He's in his office now and may be dictating letters to the secretary. He is now in his office and may be dictating letters to his secretary.
They may have been talking for half an hour.
They talked for probably half an hour.
Please note:
At the same time, might, rather than may, is often used with the Perfect Infinitive to show that there is no longer uncertainty. So, in the sentence You shouldn't have drunk the wine: it may/might have been drugged ( You shouldn't have drunk the wine - it could have been drugged) use may expresses that there is still uncertainty that the drug is not mixed, but the use might gives the statement the connotation that we now know that the drug was not spiked.
5. Might + Perfect Infinitive - used to express irritation, reproach.
Not might have sent us a telegram.
He could have sent us a telegram ( so that we could prepare for his arrival, but he did not send).
She might have helped you to do your homework.
She could help you with your homework. ( But she didn't want to help.)
Modal verb may (might) used mainly to express permission or possibility. Like a verb, it has a present tense form may and past tense form might. Let's consider the main meanings and features of this common verb.
Table: modal verb May / Might in affirmative, negative, interrogative form
Verb may (might), like others, is used according to special rules:
- In the affirmative and negative form between may (might) and the verb in does not include the particle to.
- Right:You may go. - You can go.
- Wrong: You may go.
- The verb may does not form the future tense with . In the future tense, the verb may can be replaced by a phrase to be allowed to(to be permitted, permissible).
- Right: You will be allowed to leave. - You can leave.
- Wrong: You will may leave.
- In the third person singular form, the verb may (might) does not change.
- Right: He\She\It may.
- Wrong: He\She\It may.
- The statement is also constructed according to a special scheme (see table).
May not And might not can be shortened to mayn't, mightn't.
Meanings of the modal verb May / Might
General summary of values may/might shown in the image. Read more below.
Modal verb may (might) used:
1. To express permission or prohibition
In affirmation, denial and question the meaning will be different.
1. 1. In statement
Verb in the affirmative form may expresses permission.
- You may take what you want. - You can take whatever you want.
- We may spend our money. - We Can spend our money.
Strictly speaking, verb may, in contrast to the verb can, denotes permission to perform some action, and not physical ability. In Russian, both words are usually translated as “I can”, “You can”, etc.
- I can eat four slices of pizza from once. - I Can eat 4 slices of pizza at a time (physically I can).
- You may eat whatever you want. – Can
However, in modern colloquial speech the verb can also often used to resolve:
- You can eat whatever you want. – Can eat whatever you want (you are allowed to).
1. 2. In question
IN interrogative form verb may used to ask permission.
- May I ask you a question? – Can ask you a question?
- May Can
The same question can be asked with might, but this will be a very formal question:
- Might I call you by your first name? – Can Shall I call you by name?
You will most likely never hear it in colloquial speech.
As with affirmation, in questions like “Can I...?” in modern colloquial speech the verb is often used can.
- Can I ask you a question? – Can ask you a question?
- Can I take your phone for a second? – Can take your phone for a second?
Option with may is considered more formal, suitable for an official occasion, and the question with can– less strict. Often this difference is almost indistinguishable and barely perceptible even to native speakers. But option c might is clearly a formal question.
Three ways to ask permission.
1. 3. In denial
Verb in negative form may expresses a prohibition.
- You may not park in a fire lane. - To you it is forbidden park on the fire drive.
But in colloquial speech they often say can't, implying not a physical possibility, but a prohibition.
- You can't sleep on a bench. – It is forbidden sleep on a bench.
- You must not smoke in this building. – Prohibited smoke in this building.
Note 1: May or Can?
In affirmation, question and negation can in colloquial speech can replace may in the meaning of permission or prohibition, but may cannot replace can in the sense of physical ability or lack thereof. For example, you want to say that an athlete can, is physically capable of lifting 100 kg.
- Right: The athlete can lift 100 kg. – Athlete Maybe lift 100 kg (physically capable).
- Wrong: The athlete may lift 100 kg. – Athlete Maybe lift 100 kg (someone gave him permission).
You want to tell your friend that he cannot drink 10 bottles of beer, physically he cannot:
- Right: You can't drink 10 bottles of beer. It's not possible. - You can not drinking 10 bottles of beer is impossible (physically impossible).
- Wrong: You may not drink 10 bottles of beer. You may take only two. - You can not drink 10 bottles of beer, you can only take two (there is no permission to take more).
Note 2: Permission and prohibition in the past tense
Might although it is called the past tense form of the verb may, is not used to express prohibition or permission in . For this purpose, the turnover is used to be allowed to(to be allowed, permitted).
- I was allowed to attend the Small Council meeting. - To me allowed attend a meeting of the Small Council.
- Were you allowed to participate in the game? - To you it could be participate in the game?
Verb might usually used to express an assumption (see below).
Note 3: Modal verb May in the future tense
Like, modal verb may may refer to, for example:
- You may continue playing later. - You can continue playing later.
- May I come to see you tomorrow? – Can should I visit you tomorrow?
Alternatively, you can use turnover to be allowed to in the future tense. However, it is not very well suited for informal speech.
- I will be allowed to continue playing later. - You will be allowed continue playing later.
2. To express an uncertain assumption
By an uncertain proposition I mean a proposition the plausibility or validity of which the speaker doubts. In Russian, words like “may”, “perhaps”, “possibly”, etc. are used for this. In English, verbs are used may, might,. As in Russian, the concept of “uncertain assumption” has blurred boundaries and can imply quite different situations. Let's consider the main cases.
1. Assumption relating to the present or future: You may / might know her
Verb used may or might+ verb in indefinite form. For example:
- You may know her. - You, Maybe, you know her.
- Daisy may visit us next weel. – Daisy May be
Can be used in negative form:
- You may not know her. - You, Maybe, you don’t know her.
If in the same sentences instead may put might, then the degree of confidence in the assumption will change.
- Daisy might visit us next weel. – Daisy May be, will visit us next week.
Usually they say that may expresses stronger confidence. This means that in the case with may the speaker is more confident that Daisy will come, but in the version with might I really doubt it. However, in practice, the difference in the degree of confidence between may And might It can be difficult to catch, a lot depends on the context.
Words do not always themselves determine the meaning of a statement. In life, you can say: “I am sure that we will succeed,” but with such an intonation that confidence is not observed at all. On the other hand, you can say with a mysterious smile: “Perhaps we will come up with something,” and it will become clear that we will definitely come up with something, there is no doubt about it!
Therefore, we can take as a guide that the assumption with may– more confident than with might, but you should remember that in practice anything can happen.
2. Assumption related to the past: You may / might have known her
For a past tense guess, a slightly more complex scheme is used: may/might + have +(past participle or, in other words, the third form of the verb).
- You may have seen that horse in the farm. - You, may have seen this horse on the farm.
- We might have misunderstood the professor - We, probably misunderstood professor.
Here too there is a difference between may And might in degree of confidence. By default, assumption with may more confident than with might.
Note: guess with Can/Could or May/Might?
The assumption can be made not only with may or might, but also with can or could. The difference will be that in sentences with can/could It is not the probability that will be questioned, but the physical, real possibility of something.
- Simon could have stolen a wallet from my locker. He has a key. – Simon could have stolen wallet from my locker. He has a key (Simon was able to get into the locker).
- Simon may have stolen a wallet from my locker. It wasn't locked. – Simon could have stolen wallet from my locker. It wasn't locked (Anyone, including Simon, could have stolen the wallet because the locker wasn't locked).
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Modal verbs are verbs that characterize the responsibilities, capabilities, desires and necessity of action. They directly convey the speaker’s attitude to what is happening.
Despite the fact that modal verbs are strong and do not require the use of an auxiliary verb, when constructing interrogative and negative sentences, they cannot be used independently without a semantic verb:
I cannot fly. - I can not fly.
You may go. - You can go.
In English, modal verbs are used independently only when they form a short answer, or the meaning of the statement is clear from the previous context in which semantic (weak) verbs are used:
- Can you read this?
-I can.
Most people cannot run as fast as animals, but some can.
In English for expression possibilities/impossibility or abilities/inabilities to do something, two modal verbs are most often used - can And may.
They do not change in persons and numbers, as evidenced by the absence of an ending -s- in the present simple tense, do not have all the usual forms for weak verbs (for example, the ending -ing) and do not require the help of an auxiliary verb do/ does/ did.
Can vs. May
Can And may have a meaning in Russian be able/ be able/ allow. It is immediately worth noting that in most cases they are not interchangeable. In the image accompanying the illustration of the article there is a saying:
Do as you may if you can’t do as you could.
This aphorism uses three modal verbs at once and all three will have different shades of meaning. The sentence itself is translated as follows:
Do as you are allowed, if you are prohibited from doing as you could.
There are certain criteria when choosing a particular verb.
Can has two forms in English - the present tense form and the past tense form could, which will also be used in the subjunctive mood.
However, in English it is possible to use a modal verb can in the future tense. In this case, it will be replaced by an equivalent verb to be able to do smth.
I can read English.- Present Simple
He thought he could do it alone.- Past Simple
I wish I could see it.
He told me he could have seen it earlier.- Perfect
She will be able to finish the painting in Summer.- Future
May used in English in the form of present and past tense might, which can also be found in sentences in the subjunctive mood.
May I come in?- Present Simple
They might come yesterday.- Past Simple
He might be at home.- Subjunctive mood (subjunctive mood)
Use of Can and May
Modal verb can has a wider range of applications compared to the verb may.
1. For expression ability or ability to do something use can:
I can swim. Can you?
2. Can also used to indicate possibilities(theoretical or according to some rules):
You can find it in any dictionary.
Russian Railways can change the fares seasonally.- Russian Railways may change tariffs depending on the season.
3. When prohibited used for something cannot (can't). You can also find prohibitions with may, but they will sound too “soft”:
You cannot talk too loud in the library.- You can't speak loudly in the library.
You may not talk loudly in the library.- You are not allowed to speak loudly in the library.
4. Request can be expressed through can or could. The latter in this case will have emphatically polite treatment:
Can you pass me some butter?
Could you pass me some butter?
5. When expressing surprise in interrogative sentences or reproach the narrative often uses a modal verb can. Its shape could will reflect the extreme degree of the condition:
How can you be so rude?- How can you be so rude?
You could tell me in the end.- In the end, you could have told me!
6. Cannot (can't) used to denote strong mistrust:
She can't work there.- Yes, she can’t work there.
They couldn't have done it.- They just couldn't do it.
Please note that in almost all cases of use could, verb emphasizes exaggerated attitude speaking to current events.
In situations where you ask permission to do something can be used both modal verbs. Offers with may at the same time they will sound more formally:
You can come in.- You can come in.
You may come in.- Come in./ You can come in.
Modal verbs may/might contain character speaker's uncertainty regarding the events described. As with could, past form might transmits greater degree of uncertainty:
Somebody's calling. It may be Mary.- Someone is calling. Perhaps it's Mary.
It may rain. Take an umbrella.- It can start raining. Take an umbrella.
Modal verb may most often used when especially polite treatment:
May I sit down?- Can I sit down? / Let me sit down?
Can I sit down? would rather be translated “Can I sit down?”
Often might used when expressing reproach. The sentence sounds especially caustic:
You might have told me beforehand.- I could have warned you in advance.
In this article we started a big important topic on modal verbs and talked about two of them. In future publications we will definitely try to highlight the remaining representatives of this category.
We wish you to be able to master this grammar material! May success be with you!
Victoria Tetkina
