May and Might (2)
May and might are used to mention possible actions or happenings in the future.
- I haven't decided yet where to spend my holidays. I may go to Cameroon.
==> Maybe I will go to Cameroon.
- Take an umbrella with you when you go out. It might rain later.
==> Maybe it will rain
- The bus doesn't always come on time. We might have to wait a few minutes.
==> Maybe we will have to wait.
The negative forms are:
- for may ==> may not;
Example: Jazz may not come to the party tonight. She isn't good.
==> Maybe she will not come.
- There might not be a meeting on Thursday, because the managing director is sick.
==> Maybe there will not be a meeting.
P.S.: In fact, it really doesn't matter whether you use may or might. It's all the same with a small nuance that doesn't affect the meaning of the sentence. Check this out:
- I may go to Cameroon. or I might go to Cameroon.
- Jazz might be able of heling you. or Jazz may be able of helping you.
But: You only can use might (not may), when the situation appears to be real.
- If I knew them better, I might invite them to dinner
The situation is not real, because I don't know tem very well, so I'm not going to invite them.
As you can notice, may is also not possible in this example!
The continuous form of may / might is may / might be + -ing. See also will be + -ing.
- Tell him not to call me at 9.00 pm. I'll be watching soccer on television.
- Tell him not to call me at 9.00 pm. I might be watching ? soccer on television.
==> Maybe I'll be watching it.
The continuous form is also used to express possible plans.
- Jazz is going to Cameroon next year. ==> for sure.
- Jazz might be going to Cameroon next year. ==> possible.
It's also possible to say: Jazz may go to Cameroon next year, with little difference of meaning.
May as well / might as well
Check these examples out:
Jazz: We have just missed the bus. It runs every one hour.
Janeel: What shall we do? Shall we go on foot?
Jazz: We might as well.
The weather is awesome and there's no need to wait an hour here!
Might as well do something actually means should do something; the reason: there's nothing better to do and there's no reason not to do it.
==> may as well.
Sylvia: What time are you leaving?
Jazz and Janeel: We're ready, so we might as well go now.
==> we may as well go now.
- The buses are so expensive these days, you might as well get a taxi.
==> taxis are just as good, no more expensive.
Übungen
Übungen 1
Write these sentences in a different way using may or might.
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