Unit 29 - May and might

Question 1

When/for what do we use may or might?

Answer 1

• We use may or might to say that something is possible

Question 2

What is the negative forms of may or might?

Answer 2

• may = may not

* might = might not/mightn’t

Question 3

What is similar to may/might?

Answer 3

• could
  example:
  It’s a strange story, but it could be true.

Question 4

Is couldn’t (negative) similar to « may not » and « might not » ?

Answer 4

• Couldn’t is different from may not and might not
  Example:
• Sarah couldn’t have got my message. Otherwise she would have replied.
  
  • =it is not possible that she got my message
• I wonder why Sarah hasn’t replied to my message. I suppose she might not have got it.
  
  • It’s possible that she didn’t get it - so perhaps she did, perhaps she didn’t.

Question 5

Explain the sense:

Sarah couldn’t have got my message. Otherwise she would have replied.

Answer 5

=it is not possible that she got my message

Question 6

Explain the sense:

I wonder why Sarah hasn’t replied to my message. I suppose she might not have got it.

Answer 6

It’s possible that she didn’t get it - so perhaps she did, perhaps she didn’t.