Cover of the textbook Performer B1 Phases, Vol. 1

The key answer of exercise 2

The key to exercise solutions in chapter Workbook - Mother Earth for the textbook Performer B1 Phases, Vol. 1 with authors M. Spiazzi, M. Tavella, M. Layton, E. Fiordiliso from Zanichelli

Question

Revise the Grammar reference and complete the grammar map.

Answer

MAY AND MIGHT

  • They are modal verbs and they are uninflected: they are the same for all subjects.
  • We usually use a contraction for may not and we rarely use mightn't.
  • We don't generally use may and might to ask questions about the future. BUT we can use May I...? to ask for permission.

USE

To express future possibility.

Examples:

  • I may / might visit my American relatives next summer.
  • There's a chance that I'll visit my American relatives next summer.

To make predictions about the future.

Examples:

  • There is a thunderstorm, so my flight may / might be late.
  • It's possible that my flight will be late due to the thunderstorm.

We use may and might in first conditional sentences instead of will, to make the sentence less certain.

Examples:

  • If it is sunny today, we may go to the lake.

(more certain)

  • If it is sunny today, we might / might not go to the lake.

(less certain)