| Meaning
| Forms of the MV
| Forms of the infinitive
| Kinds of sentences
| Some other ways of expressing the same meaning
| Sentence patterns
|
| 1.
a) Permission
b) Request
c) Prohibition
| a) may– the Present Tense
b) might– the Past Tense
a) may– the Present Tense
b) might– the Past Tense
c) might– the Subjunctive II Form
may not
|
Indefinite Infinitive
Indefinite Infinitive
Indefinite Infinitive
|
affirmative
interrogative
negative
|
to be permitted,
to be allowed
|
a) I have got two historical novels. So you may take one of them.
b) Mother said you might take some oranges.
a) May I see him in the hospital on Tuesday?
b) He asked me if he might rest for an hour.
c) Might I spend the weekend with you?
- May I have a look at the picture?
- No, you may not. I don't want you to.
|
| 2. Possibility due to circumstances
| a) may– the Present Tense
b) might– the Past Tense
| Indefinite Infinitive
| affirmative
|
| a) Let's meet at five o'clock at the post-office if the place and time are convenient to everybody. We may get there by bus.
b) He said he might get to work by the Metro.
|
| 3. Unreality
| might– the Subjunctive II Form
| Perfect Infinitive
| affirmative
|
| If he had arrived an hour earlier, he might have had a good night' rest.
Luckily I didn't join them in their walk. It was very windy and I might have caught cold.
|
| 4. Disapproval or reproach
| might– the Subjunctive II Form
| Indefinite Infinitive
Perfect Infinitive
| affirmative
|
| Your child is shivering with cold. You might be more attentive to him. Tell him to put on his jacket.
You answered his invitation with cold refusal. You might have invitedme to this lecture.
|
| 5. Supposition implying uncertainty, doubt
| may/might
| Indefinite Infinitive
Continuous Infinitive
Perfect Infinitive
Perfect Continuous Infinitive
| affirmative
negative
|
| She looks pale. She may (might) be ill, but I think she may/might not have a high temperature.
I think the doctor may/might be examining the patient now.
Nick is missing today. He may/might have been taken ill.
She may have been staying in bed for a week.
|
