Modal Verbs of Probability

Listed below are examples and uses of modal verbs of probability. Modal verbs of probability
are used to express an opinion of the speaker based on information that the speaker has.
Example: He must be at work, it's 10 o'clock. In this case, the speaker is 100 % sure that the
person is at work based on the speaker's knowledge that the person in question usually works
at during the day.

Examples Usage
Use 'must' plus the verb when you are 100%
(or almost 100%) sure that something is the
They must be in case.
Spain by now.

She must have

done well on the
test.

Use 'might' or 'may' to express an opinion

that you think has a good possibility of being
She might come true.
this evening.

David may invite

Jesica to the
match.

Jack might have

gone to France.

Use 'could' to express a possibilty which is

one of many. This form is not as strong as
Jane could be at 'might' or 'may'. It is just one of a number of
work. possibilities.

Peter could have

arrived late.

You can't be Use 'can't' to express an opinion that you are

serious! 100% sure is NOT true.

They can't have Notice that the past form remains 'can't have
worked until late. done'

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 May / might
May

We can use 'may' to ask for permission. However this is rather formal and not used very often in
modern spoken English

• May I borrow your pen?

• May we think about it?
• May I go now?

We use 'may' to suggest something is possible

• It may rain later today.

• I may not have time to do it today.
• Pete may come with us

Might

We use 'might' to suggest a small possibility of something. Often we read that 'might' suggests a
smaller possibility that 'may', there is in fact little difference and 'might is more usual than 'may'
in spoken English.

• She might be at home by now but it's not sure at all.

• It might rain this afternoon.
• I might not have time to go to the shops for you.
• I might not go.

For the past, we use 'might have'.

• He might have tried to call you while you were out.

• I might have left it in the taxi.

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Sample Dialogs
X - Is that woman from Catalonia?

Z - I think she may be from Catalonia.

X - How do you figure that?

Z - Well, it's her name. I can usually figure it out by the name. Catalonian seems to be kind of a
cross between Spanish and French. I believe I've been told that Catalonian is similar to
Provençal. Anyway, it's her name. It seems kind of like Spanish and French together. I think she
may be from Catalonia.

 Speaker Z has something in mind which supports the idea that the woman is from
Catalonia. Therefore, speaker Z chooses to use "may" and not "might".

Z - Is she from Catalonia?

Y - She might be. Why do you ask?

Z - Well, I once spoke to someone from Catalonia who said that by comparison to other people
from Spain, Catalonians seem to be quieter.

Y - Yeah, she seems kind of quiet, but there's no way to know that for sure. What's her name?

Z - I don't know....... ah.... I mean I can't remember......

Y - Well, she might be from Catalonia. Catalonians have last names that seem to be different
from other Spanish last names. Ask one of the other people from Spain. One of them might
know her name.

 Here, speaker Y doesn't feel strongly enough about the idea that the woman is from
Catalonia. Therefore, speaker Y chooses to use "might". Speaker Y feels better
about basing the idea that the woman is from Catalonia on her name than on her
quiet personality.

 I don’t believe it's possible to quantify modal certainty or uncertainty with reference
to “might, may, could”. A speaker decides to use “might”, “may”, or “could” based on
his or her viewpoint and other information that may or may not support an idea as
being true or false.

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A. We’ve got two weeks off in July. What do you want to do?

B. We could go to Maine or Vermont.

A. What do you think you'll do with those two weeks you have off in July?

B. I might go to Maine or Vermont.

A. What do you think you'll do with those two weeks you have off in July?

B. I could go to Maine or Vermont.

 Clearly, "might" and "could" do not mean the same thing. If we use "could" it mostly
acknowledges or suggests the possibility of something. If we use "might" it is more
likely to suggest the possiblility of something that is a weaker possibility. However,
by using “might” in example number two, the speaker is most likely considering his
or her actual intentions.

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Use must, might, may, could or can't plus the correct form of the verb.

Where is David? He _____________________(be) at school. Classes begin at 8.

She ____________________(think) that it is a good idea. It's crazy!

Courses _________________________(begin) the fifth of September.

They ________________(live) in New York, but I'm not sure.

Complete with may or might

1 - I was just wondering whether you ____ be able to help me.

2 - ____ God have mercy on your soul.

3 - You ____ well be right.

4 - I told them I ____ go if I felt like it, but wasn't sure.

5 - Students ____ only borrow four books at a time.

6 - The examiner says we ____ leave when we've finished.

7 - It ____ be very expensive, but it's much better than the others.

8 - I just ____ accept your offer.

9 - You ____ try asking her for help- she knows her stuff.

10 - You ____ have told me earlier!

Choose the best option

1. Take your umbrella as it might rained/ might rain / may rains today.
2. He is still at work! He might came / may come / may comes late I am afraid.
3. John couldn't repair his washing-machine; he might have asked/ might asked / may ask his
neighbour.
4. They talked too loudly. They might have woken / might have wake / might have woke the
baby!
5. Darling! I wonder if I might offer /might offers / may offer you that marvellous car you saw
yesterday?
6. Mum ! My friends are having a party tonight ; may I go / might I go / may I have gone
please?

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7. Sweetheart! As you were at home your might have do / might have done / may have done
the ironing , don't you think ?
8. Yes darling, but I was afraid I might have burnt / may burn / might burn your marvelous
shirt!
9. He might is / may be / may been late because his flight has been delayed.
10. Look at those clouds! It mays rain / may rain / will may rain in a minute.

Practical English

How to Make Decisions

1. You are going to read some tips to help people to make decisions. Before you read, try to
provide your own tips, share them with the class.

2. Quickly look through the article. Is any of the mentioned tips there? Then complete the text
with these verbs from the box.

ask compare confuse

feel have make (2)
take use wait

When you have to choose between two possibilities:

 __________ your time. The most important thing is not to make a decision in a
hurry.
 ___________ a list of the positive and negative points for both options. Then decide
which points are most important and _________________ the two lists.
 If you _____________ other people for their advice, don’t ask more than one or
two. If you ask a lot of people this will probably ___________ you.
 _______________ your imagination to help you. Imagine yourself in both
situations. How do you _____________? Relaxed or stressed?
 When you’ve made a decision, ____________ a bit before you tell other people to
see how you feel. If you feel comfortable with your decision after one hour, you
have probably made the right decision.
 Finally, remember that you can’t ____________________ everything. Choosing
one of two possibilities often means that you can’t have the one you didn’t choose.
And it’s impossible to always ________________ the right decision.