Verbs may, might. Application and grammatical features

Modal verbs may, might in general terms describe the theoretical probability of an event under certain conditions. These conditions may be the desire or unwillingness of one of the participants in the events, the possibility of committing from the point of view of laws, norms, rules, etiquette and other circumstances. As a rule, the statement takes the form of assumptions or assumptions. Both verbs can express probability and resolution. In addition, they may indicate the obviousness of some action as the most predictable in the prevailing circumstances. There are also areas in which it is possible to put a certain verb. So, the modal verb may express permission. Permission here means permitting, not permission or a request for permission. The verb might helps to make an assumption, for example, as a conjecture or your attitude towards the implementation of a particular idea.

In this case, may and might can not only relate to some hypothetical situation in the future, but also be used at any time (although the modal verb itself does not contain indications of time directly).

May, might vs. Can, could

These verbs in English, like can and could, are similar in meaning, but in most cases express the individual ability of the character to one or another action. Often in the same sentence, it can be put as may, might, and can, could. In many situations, the use of may, might is due to the need for a more restrained tone. These verbs in English serve as indicators of officiality. This is appropriate, for example, in a business conversation with partners and colleagues, when dealing with unfamiliar people or in sensitive situations. In colloquial speech, you can often meet all the same can and could.

Probability

The verbs may, might say that we are not sure whether something is possible but nevertheless tend to believe that such a scenario is very likely, based on our personal motives, from external conditions, timetables, general patterns or Habits. It can be noted that usually not a doubt, but a predictive component, outweighs. The verb could have a similar use, but it is used for more informal communication.

He might come.

They can help us.

This could be one reason.

In drawing up the negation, the particle not refers in its sense to the subsequent part rather than to the may or might.

He may not be in England at all.

They may not get a house with central heating .

When it is necessary to express that in the past, an event has probably occurred, but you are not sure of this, you can use may have, might have, the verb following them is put in the form of the past participle.

You could have noticed this improvement.

He could not not see me.

/ They might not do it.

Also, might have, with the subsequent participle of the past tense , expresses that if a certain event takes place, then there would be an opportunity for some other event.

- She said it was all right, if the weather had been good. She said that everything could be alright if the weather was good. (But the weather was not good, so everything was out of order).

Permission

May / may not be used to say that someone is allowed / not allowed to perform certain actions.

/ They can do exactly as they want.

The seller can not sell this book at a price lower than the publisher's price.

Resolution

In addition, by means of these verbs, one can be allowed to do something.

- You can speak.

/ You can leave as soon as you finish.

Or to ask for permission (although in the modern language the might is quite rare).

- May I have a cigarette? / Can I have a cigarette?

- Might I inquire if you are the owner? / Can I ask if you are the owner?

Being modal, the verbs may, might always go first as part of the predicate, require a verb in their basic form, do not have -s, -ing and -ed forms, do not indicate the time of what is happening,

Since there can not be more than one modal verb in one predicate, the second modal verb is replaced by a word similar in meaning, often this is the "semimedal" verb. Replace might, for example, to be likely to.

Your husband may have to give up work.

Maybe he will come.

If you want to take the subsequent verb not in the basic form, but in the -ing form, the past participle or the to-infinitive, the verbs may, might not be used. You can put it as a replacement, for example, be allowed to.

- I am strongly in favor of people.

- They have going to be allowed to travel on the trains.

Assumption

To make a very polite, delicate or cautious guess, the might might in English can be used in conjunction with like or want.

/ I thought maybe you'd like to walk with me?

/ Maybe you want to try another store.

Or with the help of It might be and a group of a noun, an adjective or a to-infinitive.

- I think that maybe it's a good idea to stop writing now.

/ It might be worth taking a new car.

Evidence

Circuits such as may as well and might as well help express an assumption of action, based on reasonableness and justification, or on the common reason "why not". It usually has a rational character, but also, depending on the situation, quite often acquires skeptical or slightly mocking character. Close in meaning expressions - "can, as an option, ...", "be able to with the same success."

/ You can just as well open them all.

/ He could, as an option, take the car.

Abbreviations

As in the case of many service words, to save time and paper when writing negatives, the particle not by means of an apostrophe can be reduced to not and added to the verb. However, for may and might, abbreviations are not as popular as, for example, for the verb-bundle be. Probably, it was so because of the specific meaning of the negative particle in the conventional revolutions. If the essence of the sentence lies in the theoretical impossibility of an event, not automatically falls under the stress, and the accented particles are usually not used in a reduced form. Sometimes the might not shrink to might not. The modal verb may not shrink to mayn't very rarely in modern language