May / might
Model |
Meaning |
Peculiarities |
Example |
Translation |
may + Simple Infinitive |
Permission |
polite requests - might |
You may go now (you are allowed to go) Might I use your telephone, please? |
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Possibility of the fact |
affirmative sentences |
You may find all the books you want in the National Library. The railways may be improved. |
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Prohibition (negative) |
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You may not go swimming. You may not enter the room until I say so. |
He смей... |
May (might)+ any form of the infinitive |
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Supposition, uncertainty (perhaps / maybe) |
in affirmative and negative statements |
He may come or he may not. This news is so strange that you may not believe it. |
Может быть, он придет, а может и нет |
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Reproach |
might + positive statements |
You might at least offer to help |
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might + perfect infinitive = irritation (annoyance) |
You might have opened the door for me.
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May (might) in clauses of |
purpose |
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Sit here so that I may see your face more clearly. |
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concession |
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However hard he might try, he never managed it. |
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object, predicative, apposition |
expressing hope, wish, fear |
The doctor has fears that she may not live much longer The prisoner had hopes that he might be set free. |
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expressions |
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I may/might as well + infinitive Might just as well |
I may as well take you with me. You might just as well wait till Tuesday and go by the fast one. |
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Must
Model |
Meaning |
Peculiarities |
Example |
Translation |
Must + Simple infinitive |
Immediate obligation or necessity, (referring to the future) |
positive statements and questions |
He must move the furniture himself. I can’t help him. Must you really go so soon?
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надо, нужно, должен |
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obligation or compulsion |
You must be back at 2 o’clock. I want you to do some cooking. James said we must invite the Stewarts |
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2nd person (obligation, command) |
You must do as you are told. You must be careful.
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Prohibition. |
нельзя, не разрешается |
Cars must not be parked in front of this gate. |
He разрешается оставлять машины перед воротами |
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Invitations |
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You must come and see me sometime. |
Вы обязательно должны навестить меня как-нибудь. |
must + any form of the infinitive |
probability, near certainty |
вероятно, должно быть |
Where’s Nell? She must be sightseeing now It must have been raining when you left |
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expressing probability is not used: |
a) with reference to the future (probably, evidently) |
He will probably feel lonely. |
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b) in negative and interrogative forms. |
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