This document discusses the use of the words "may" and "might" to indicate possibilities. It notes that may and might have the same meaning and are used to suggest something is possible but uncertain. Examples are provided showing their use in affirmative and negative forms. A distinction is made between the negative forms "may not" and "might not" which suggest something is still possible versus "couldn't" which indicates something is not possible.

1. UNIT 29
MAY and MIGHT (1)
Fitry Nurhadiah Salim
Hijranisa Ditami
Inggit Wastiantias Sari
2-E
HAMKA UNIVERSITY

2. A B C

3. A
We use may or might to say that something is a possibility.
They have the same meaning.
You can say :
“It may be true” or “it might
be true”
(=perhaps it is true)

4. The negative forms are may not and might
not (or mightn’t)
Example :

6. B
You might have left in the
shop. (= perhaps you left in the
shop)
She may have been
I can’t find my bag anywhere. asleep. (= perhaps she was
asleep)

7. She might not have known
about it. (= perhaps she
I was surprised that Sarah
didn’t know)
wasn’t at the meeting.
He may not have been
I wonder why Colin was in feeling well. (= perhaps he
such a bad mood yesterday. wasn’t feeling well)

8. The
Structure

9. The phone’s ringing. It could
be Tim.
(= it may/might be Tim )
You could have left your
bag in the shop. ( =you
may/might have left it...)

10. C
But couldn’t (negative) is different from may not and
might not
She was too far away, so she couldn’t have seen you. ( =it is
not possible that she saw you)
A : I wonder why she didn’t say hello.
B : She might not have seen you.
(= perhaps she didn’t see you; perhaps she did)

11. THANK YOU