Azar 7 3 expressing possibility

1. 7-3 Expressing Possibility and
Permission
Page 182

2. They have the same meaning.
It may rain tomorrow.
=
It might rain tomorrow.
Why isn’t John in class?
I don’t know. He may be sick today.
=
He might be sick today.
Mayandmight
expresspossibility
inthepresentor
future.

3. Negative: may not and might not
(Do not contract may and might with
not.)
It may not rain tomorrow.
=
It might not rain tomorrow.
Mayandmight
expresspossibility
inthepresentor
future.

4. It means “possibly.” It comes at the
beginning of a sentence.
Maybe it will rain tomorrow.
Maybe John is sick.
Maybe(spelledas
oneword)isan
adverb.

5. Maybe John is sick.
John may be sick.
COMPARE!

6. May is more formal than can.
Yes, children, you may have a cookie
after dinner. (formal)
=
OK, kids, you can have a cookie after
dinner. (informal)
MayandCanare
oftenusedtogive
permission.

7. Deny permission = to say “no”
You may not have a cookie.
=
You can’t have a cookie.
Maynotand
cannot(can’t)are
usedtodeny
permission.