Page 97 - Oxford_English_Grammar_Course_Basic_2015

may and might It may snow. I might have a cold.

1may go you may go he/she/it may go etc
1may not go you may not go he/she/it may not go etc

D
No contractions: mayn't

We use may to say that things are possible - perhaps they are (not) true, or perhaps they will (not) happen.

'What's that animal?' 'I'm not sure. It may be a rabbit.' I may go to Wales at the weekend.
We may not be here tomorrow.
We do not use may in this way in questions.
It may snow. BUT NOT May it-snow?

Rewrite the sentences with may.

► Perhaps Sarah's ill. . J'lXf!y.J??.h4v,..........................................................................................
► Perhaps we won't go out. ..X V ? . .............................................................

1 Perhaps it won't rain.............................................................................................................................
2 Perhaps we'll buy a car. ......................................................................................................................
3 Perhaps Joe is not at home...................................................................................................................
4 Perhaps Anna needs help.....................................................................................................................
5 Perhaps the baby's hungry....................................................................................................................
6 Perhaps I won't change my job.............................................................................................................

7 Perhaps she's married...........................................................................................................................
8 Perhaps he doesn't want to talk to you.................................................................................................
9 Perhaps you're not right........................................................................................................................
10 Perhaps I won't be here tomorrow....................................................................................................... .

Q Put the beginnings and ends together; put in may with words from the box.

not be decide give go / go not have snow stay

0 'What are your plans for next year?' A 'I'm not sure. 1..!flVP.bl.S.0......to America.'
1 'Are you going to buy that coat?' B 'Not sure. They ...................... at home.'.......
2 'Where are your parents going on holiday?' C 'No. 1.............. ...... to study physics.'.......

3 'Shall we phone Pete now?' D 'Yes. 1 think it /
4 'It's getting very cold.' E 'Perhaps; 1...... ...............enough money.'.......

5 'What are you doing this evening?' F '1don't know. 1 ..................... him a sweater.'.......
6 'Are you going to study medicine?' G 'It's early; he ... ...................out of bed yet.'.......
7 'What are you giving Oliver for his birthday?' H 'We................ .....round to Sophie's place.'.......

We may live without poetry, music and art;
We may live without conscience, and live without heart;
We may live without friends, we may live without books;
J ' J /
But civilised man cannot live without cooks.
{Owen Meredith)

Science fiction is the literature o f might be.
(CJCherryh)

82 MODAL VERBS