maymight.htm

Modals of Possibility
Could, May & Might
LBCC E-ESL Lesson & Quizzes

This dog might be an astronaut!

Introduction Could, May and Might

Quizzes

Introduction

This lesson is a part of the Modals Opus. In this lesson, the modals of possibility, could, may and might, will be explained. This lesson will be followed by interactive quizzes.

As with all modals, could, may and might obey the following rules.

In all situations could, may and might will be followed by another verb.
Could, may and might are never conjugated.
Could, may and might are followed by the simple form of the verb.

Could, May and Might

Could, may and might are words that are used to express possibility. When could, may and might are in a sentence, they change the meaning of the sentence.

For example:

They are sick. This means that the speaker is sure that "they" are sick.
They could be sick. This means that the speaker isn't positive that "they" could be sick.
They might be sick. Again, thismeans that the speaker isn't positive that "they" are sick.
They may be sick. This means the same as above. The speaker isn't positive that "they" are sick.

EXAMPLES:

Harold visits his family.

As you know, third person singular simple present tense verbs end with -s.

When could,may or might is used, however, the verb does not end with an -s.

Rosa studies mathematics.

This example is exactly like the one above it.

They know the answer.

This example is only a little different. The principal point to remember is that could, may and might are never conjugated and the verb following them is never conjugated as well.