Might, May and Could — Talking About Possibility
Practice might, may and could for possibility: not certain vs will, might not, could for suggestions, and why 'it can rain tomorrow' is wrong.
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Take an umbrella — it ___ rain later.
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might
'Might' = it's possible, but not certain. Like all modals, it has no -s and no 'to' after it: 'it might rain'.
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I'm not sure yet, but I ___ visit my parents this weekend.
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might
'I'm not sure' → it's only possible → 'might'. 'Will' means you're sure, and 'must' means it's necessary — neither matches 'not sure'.
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The forecast says it ___ snow tomorrow, but it isn't certain.
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may
'It isn't certain' → 'may' (= might). 'Will' is too sure. 'Can' isn't used for a prediction about one future event: not 'it can snow tomorrow'.
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Ask Lisa — she ___ know the answer, but I'm not sure.
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might
'I'm not sure' → it's only possible → 'might'. 'Will' and 'must' both sound certain, which contradicts 'I'm not sure'.
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Don't wait for me — I ___ be late tonight. I've got a lot of work.
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may
Being late is possible, not certain → 'may' (= might). 'Must be late' sounds like an obligation, and 'can' isn't used to predict one future event.
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There's a lot of traffic, so we ___ not get there on time.
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might
'Might not' = possibly not — the traffic makes being late possible. 'Should not get there on time' is advice, and 'mustn't' means something is forbidden; neither fits.
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A weekend at the lake
Mia: So, are we still going to the lake on Saturday?
Leo: I hope so, but the forecast says it {1} in the afternoon.
Mia: Then we {2} early and come back before lunch.
Leo: Good idea. But I {3} the car — my brother needs it this weekend.
Mia: No problem. We {4} the train — there's one at eight.
Leo: Great. Oh, and you {5} warm clothes. Even in summer, it {6} quite cold by the water.
Mia: OK. And if it rains all day, we {7} the trip to next weekend.Show answer
1. might rain — The forecast isn't certain, so rain is only possible → 'might rain'. No 'to' after 'might'.
2. could leave — 'Could' makes a suggestion: 'we could leave early' = that's one possible plan.
3. may not have — Leo isn't sure he'll get the car, because his brother needs it → 'may not have' (= possibly not).
4. can catch — There's a train at eight, so catching it is possible → 'can catch'.
5. should bring — Leo is giving advice → 'should' + base verb: 'should bring'. Not 'must bringing'.
6. can get — 'Can' for something that sometimes happens in general: by the water, it can get cold even in summer.
7. will have to move — If it rains all day, moving the trip will be necessary → 'will have to move'. 'Must' has no future form.
Might, May and Could for Possibility
Might, may and could all describe something possible but not certain: Take an umbrella — it might rain later, I may be late tonight, We could leave early. In most everyday sentences might and may are interchangeable, with may slightly more formal. Their negatives are might not and may not: We might not get there on time. On a scale of certainty they sit between will (certain) and won't (certainly not), which is why I'm not sure, but I'll visit my parents sounds contradictory and I might visit does not. Can does not belong on this scale. It describes general possibility — It can get cold by the water — but it is not used to predict one future event: It might snow tomorrow, not It can snow tomorrow.
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