MODAL VERBS Marca Jose Oficial

INSTITUTO DE FORMACION SUPERIOR
INTERCULTURAL “KHANA MARKA”
MODAL VERBS “MAY” AND

“MIGHT”
STUDENT: MARCA HUANCA JOSE DAVID
RECTOR: LIC. REBECA BUSTOS CÓRDOVA
RECTOR: MSC. SANTIAGO CONDORI 2023
APAZA
INTRODUCTION
• The purpose of this work is to cover a small but important part of English
grammar. Modal verbs, specifically the auxiliary verbs "may" and "might",
whose importance lies in trying to further enrich communication.
• I will approach them from their definition, under what conditions they are
used, the grammatical rules that govern them, as well as their different
configurations (affirmative, negative and interrogative), in addition to
presenting several examples.
• All this in order to achieve a greater degree of understanding of these
auxiliary verbs, which are often not given much importance
JUSTIFICATION
• The modal verbs "may" and "might" can cause some confusion at the time of
their study, due to the various interpretations that they can express according
to the context. For these and other reasons, they are among the most difficult
modal verbs to understand.
• The reason for this work is to deal with these modal verbs in greater depth,
and to learn their correct use in the English language.
• In this way, I will try to develop the subject in the best possible order.
Likewise, the most representative examples will be presented to understand
the use of these modal verbs,
OBJECTIVES
GENERAL OBJECTIVE
• To know and analyze the grammar of the English modal verbs "May" and
"Might", in order to understand and correctly interpret expressions
containing these modal verbs, both in conversations and in written texts.
SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES
• Understand the purpose and necessity of the modal verbs "may" and "might".
• Identify the structure of these modal verbs in affirmative, negative and
interrogative sentences.
• To know the conjugations of these modal verbs, in the different tenses.
MODAL VERBS
Modal verbs in English are very particular, since they come to fulfill the
function of auxiliary verbs, that is why they must always accompany a main
verb.
MODAL VERBS “MAY” AND “MIGHT”
Both "may" and "might" are generally considered the same, so either can be
used interchangeably.
These modal verbs are used when we are not sure that something is so in the
present or that something will happen in the future or that something happened
in the past
MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF MODAL VERBS
English modal verbs, having a similar function, share several grammatical
characteristics. They are even considered requirements for a modal verb to be
recognized as such.
Their common characteristics can be summarized as follows:
• Modify other verbs.- After a modal verb in English there is always a main
verb in its infinitive form (for example, there is no "I may to go").
• They are not conjugated according to the pronoun.- They are always used
in their base form or infinitive without the "to" (for example, there is no "to
might").
• They do not have a gerund.- (for example, there is no "maying", "musting").
• They do not have a participle.- They will never have a past participle (for
example, there is no "mayed", "mighted").
• They do not need an auxiliary verb.- Modal verbs, being themselves auxiliary
verbs, do not need another verb to construct a negative or interrogative sentence.
CONJUGATION OF MODAL VERBS

“MAY” AND “MIGHT”
The steps to follow for the construction of affirmative, negative and

interrogative sentences with modal verbs
MODAL VERBS IN AFFIRMATIVE SENTENCES
The first thing to do is to mention the subject of the sentence, After that, the
modal verb "may" or "might" will be used, without making any changes to
them.
Juan may go out tonight.
After, the main verb (the action) will be mentioned. Remembering that this
main verb must be in its base form
I might go
Finally, the last thing we are going to mention is the complement. That
additional information that enriches the idea.
I may go to the university tomorrow, I’m not sure.
Grammatical structure of an affirmative sentence containing these modal verbs
is as follows:
Subject + modal verb + main verb + complement.
MODAL VERBS IN NEGATIVE SENTENCES

the only change we have to make to the affirmative sentence is simply to place
the negative particle "not" after the modal verb
She might not be married.
Grammatical structure of a negative sentence containing these modal verbs is

as follows:
Subject + modal verb + not + main verb + complement.
MODAL VERBS IN INTERROGATIVE SENTENCES
To make an interrogative sentence or question, we will always start with the

modal verb "may" or "might", then the subject of the sentence followed by the
main verb in its infinitive form, and finally the complement
May I use your bathroom?
Grammatical structure of a interrogative sentence containing these modal verbs

is as follows:
Modal verb + Subject + main verb + complement?
SHORT ANSWERS Yes, you may No, you might not
May I come in?
Yes, you may No. You may not

EXPRESSIONS OF TIME WITH MODAL
VERBS “MAY” AND “MIGHT”
Remember that these modal verbs have no tense, In other words. they do not
have a different past or future form.
Might/May + Infinitive verb
PRESENT PAST
He may come with his wife. He may go to your house.
I am not sure, but it might true. She may say no to her Friends.
It’s been so long, that she may not recognize you.

FUTURE PRESENT CONTINUOUS
Might/May + BE + Ving
They may set up a restaurant next year.
They might be sleeping now.
She may not call you tonight.
He might be watching a movie right now.
MODAL PERFECT
May/Might HAVE + Vparticiple PRESENT CONTINUOUS IN THE PAST

He might have forgotten to tell you.
May/Might HAVE + BEEN + Ving
She might have gone out when you called her.
She might have been cooking at that moment.
He may have been having breakfast when you called him.

“MAY” AND “MIGHT” CONSIDERATIONS AND APPLICATIONS
If we want to indicate that there is a greater possibility of something

happening, we use "may".
It may snow.
We use "might" when we consider that the possibility of something happening
is remote, rare. It might not even happen.
It might snow.
In a formal way, "may" is used to:

• Offer me in a formal way to do something.
May I help you? May I be of any assistance?
• To ask someone for permission to do something.
May I open the door? May I go? May I sit here?
• To give someone permission to do something. YOU MAY
May i sit here? Yes, you may / No. you may not.
• To not give someone permission to do something, in other words to prohibit him/her.
Hotel guests may not use the swimming pool after midnight.
3
We can add well after "might" or "may", to give the idea that it is more likely that
something will happen.
She might well change her mind.
4
To speak or express wishes. Here only "may" is used and it will be placed at the
beginning of the sentence:
May + subject + Infinitive
May the test be easy. May you be happy. May it be a great day.
Three common expressions with "might" or "may".

Might have know I might have know you would be there.
He is very clumsy and shy, but be that as it

Be that as it may
may, I am going to take him on.
Come what may
I will attend his birthday come what may
THANK
YOU

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INSTITUTO DE FORMACION SUPERIOR

INTERCULTURAL “KHANA MARKA”

MODAL VERBS “MAY” AND

CONJUGATION OF MODAL VERBS

The steps to follow for the construction of affirmative, negative and

MODAL VERBS IN NEGATIVE SENTENCES

Grammatical structure of a negative sentence containing these modal verbs is

To make an interrogative sentence or question, we will always start with the

Grammatical structure of a interrogative sentence containing these modal verbs

SHORT ANSWERS Yes, you may No, you might not

May I come in?

Yes, you may No. You may not

He may come with his wife. He may go to your house.

It’s been so long, that she may not recognize you.

May/Might HAVE + Vparticiple PRESENT CONTINUOUS IN THE PAST

He may have been having breakfast when you called him.

If we want to indicate that there is a greater possibility of something

In a formal way, "may" is used to:

Three common expressions with "might" or "may".

He is very clumsy and shy, but be that as it

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