|
|
| |
|
|
| |
|
Home -
Grammar - Everyday Grammar - May, Might, and Must |
|
|
|
| |
 May,
Might, and Must
The lesson includes a video program, an audio program
explaining this grammar topic, the script for the audio
program, a words in this story section,
and other important information. |
Video Program
Watch the video program explaining this grammar topic.
Then listen to the audio program explaining this grammar topic. |
Audio Program
Listen to the audio program explaining this grammar
topic. Then read the following written information. |
|
|
May, Might, and Must |
For VOA Learning English, this is Everyday Grammar.
This week's Everyday Grammar looks at how to use the
modals may, must and might.
Modal verbs (called modals for short) are auxiliary
verbs that express a speaker’s attitude and the strength
of that attitude. There are about 17 modals in English.
They have multiple meanings and sometimes overlap in
ways that are confusing to English learners.
Today we will look at how we use these modals to express
how certain, or sure, you are of something.
Degrees of certainty in the
present and past
Grammar expert Betty Azar explains that these modals
tell us how sure speakers are about what they are
saying.
A person who is 100 percent sure uses the verb be, as
in, "I am sick."
If they are mostly sure, say 95 percent, they will use
the modal must, as in, "I must be sick."
When speakers are about 50 percent sure, they will use
the modals may, might, or could; as in "I may be sick. I
might be sick. I could be sick."
Might as the past tense of may
Might is used as the past form of may. For example:
"I may take more pictures." (This is a direct quote)
She said she might take more pictures. (This is reported
speech)
Notice how may changed to might. Modals change to a past
form in reported speech.
Yesterday we had a staff meeting. I looked around the
room and noticed my co-worker Anna was not there. I
asked, "Where's Anna?" and got three answers from my
co-workers.
Jonathan answered, "Oh, she may be making a video in the
studio."
Kelly said, "She might have stayed home today."
Adam told us, "She called me to say she was doing an
interview at the Capitol
this morning. So she must still be working over there."
In this conversation, you can see a change from may to
might. May shows the speaker is not sure in the present
moment: "She may be making a video." May changes to
might to express a possible state in the past: "She
might have stayed home." Finally, must expresses a
strong certainty: "She must be working there."
People today do not always follow these rules about
present and past tense for may and might. You will hear
both words to express the same degree of certainty.
English speakers still express strong certainty in
phrases like, "It must be love."
Listen for the word might in this song by The Cars.
You might think it's foolish
Or maybe it's untrue
You might think I'm crazy
But all I want is you
By using might, the singer is expressing about 50
percent certainty.
Degrees of uncertainty in the
future
Now let's look at how we express certainty about the
future.
My friend Andy has a test next week. He has studied very
hard for months. I told him, "You will do well on the
test. Don't worry." I believe with 100 percent certainty
that Andy will pass the test.
On the other hand, Carrie, who has to take the same
test, just began studying last week. I warned her, "You
might not do well on the test. You should study more
this weekend." I am not so sure that Carrie will pass.
In fact, I doubt it. I express that future possibility
with might.
May is sometimes used to express
hope
The idea of possible future events lets English speakers
use may to talk about hopes. You will see may on
greeting cards and in prayers or religious writings.
A quick look at Google Ngrams shows that few people are
using may in this way. Now, it is much more common to
hear "I hope that."
The group Celtic Woman sings of their wishes in "May it
Be:"
May it be an evening star,
Shines down upon you.
May it be when darkness falls,
Your heart will be true.
Traditional poems and prayers also use may to express
positive sentiments. This is part of an old Irish
blessing:
May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind always be at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face.
With that in mind, the Everyday Grammar team says, "May
you find our articles useful."
I’m Jill Robbins.
And I'm Adam Brock.
Dr. Jill Robbins wrote this story for Learning English.
Adam Brock was the editor. |
|
|
Words in This Story |
- certain
- adj. not having any
doubt about something; convinced or sure
- positive
- adj. thinking that a
good result will happen: hopeful or optimistic
- modal
verb - a verb
(such as can, could, shall, should, ought to, will,
or would) that is usually used with another verb to
express ideas such as possibility, necessity, and
permission
- auxiliary
verb - a verb
(such as have, be, may, do, shall, will, can, or
must) that is used with another verb to show the
verb's tense, to form a question, etc.
|
|
|
Additional Information |
|
Now it’s your turn. Write a sentence using may, might,
or must in the Facebook Comments section below. |
|
Source: Voice of America |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Grammar Tips |
Can You Catch These Native Speaker Mistakes?
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of common mistakes. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part One
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part One
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part Two
(Beginner - Listening,
reading)
A video lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words.
The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page. |
Commonly Confused Words: Part Two
(Beginner - Listening)
An audio lesson to
help with your understanding of commonly confused
words. The English is
spoken at 75% of normal speed.
Click here to visit the lesson page with the written script for this
audio program. |
|
|
|
|
Search Fun Easy English |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
About
Contact
Copyright
Resources
Site Map |
