Future possibility
may might could
Temperatures in London MAY DROP as much as eleven degrees by tomorrow morning. We MIGHT even SEE some snow flurries later on in the day. Winds COULD REACH 60 kph.
Grammar Explanations & Examples
Use may /might and could to talk about future possibility.
It may be windy later.It might get cold. It could rain tomorrow.
Notice the difference between may be and maybe. Both express possibility.May be is a modal+verb (always two words). He may be late today. Maybe is an adverb and it comes at the begining of the sentence. Maybe he'll take the train.
Use may not and might not to express the possibility that something will not happen.
There are a lot of clouds but it might not rain. You may not need a coat.
Be careful! We don't contract might not and may not.
Future possibility
may might could
Questions about possibility
Questions about possibility are not usually formed with may, might or could. They are formed with the future forms: will, be going to, the present continuous or phrases such as Do you think ...? or Is it possible that ...? It's the answers to these questions that often have may, might or could
A: When will it start snowing?B: It might start around lunchtime. A: Are you going to drive to work? B: I might take the bus instead. A: When are you leaving? B: I may leave in about an hour or so. A: Will your office close early for Christmas? B: It might. A: Is your train going to be late? B: It might be.
Future possibility
Monika Szkudlińska
Created on March 20, 2021
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Transcript
Future possibility
may might could
Temperatures in London MAY DROP as much as eleven degrees by tomorrow morning. We MIGHT even SEE some snow flurries later on in the day. Winds COULD REACH 60 kph.
Grammar Explanations & Examples
Use may /might and could to talk about future possibility.
It may be windy later.It might get cold. It could rain tomorrow.
Notice the difference between may be and maybe. Both express possibility.May be is a modal+verb (always two words). He may be late today. Maybe is an adverb and it comes at the begining of the sentence. Maybe he'll take the train.
Use may not and might not to express the possibility that something will not happen.
There are a lot of clouds but it might not rain. You may not need a coat.
Be careful! We don't contract might not and may not.
Future possibility
may might could
Questions about possibility
Questions about possibility are not usually formed with may, might or could. They are formed with the future forms: will, be going to, the present continuous or phrases such as Do you think ...? or Is it possible that ...? It's the answers to these questions that often have may, might or could
A: When will it start snowing?B: It might start around lunchtime. A: Are you going to drive to work? B: I might take the bus instead. A: When are you leaving? B: I may leave in about an hour or so. A: Will your office close early for Christmas? B: It might. A: Is your train going to be late? B: It might be.