Для выражении неуверенности или сильного сомнения используются следующие структуры (может быть, но маловероятно)

МОЖЕТ БЫТЬ, ВОЗМОЖНО

may / might

be there be waiting have left have been sleeping

present present past past

May / might практически равнозначны при передачи сильного сомнения. Глагол might может передавать даже большее сомнение.

Study these examples.

Present Infinitive	Perhaps he’ll come early.	He might come early.
Present Cont. Inf.	Perhaps they are having a break.	They may be having a break.
Perfect Inf.	Perhaps he has gone out.	He may have gone out.
Perfect Cont. Inf.	Perhaps they were sleeping.	They might have been sleeping.

Exercise 16. Translate from English into Russian.

1. He may be busy right now. 2. The dog might be hungry. 3. He may be watching TV now. 4. He didn’t arrive. He may have missed the train. 5. He may be at the lecture right now. 6. He may have written the letter, but the signature (подпись) is not his. 7. It may have been worse. 8. He looks pale. He may be tired.

Exercise 17. Translate from Russian into English.

1. Может быть, ты встретишь его на лекции. 2. Может быть (но маловероятно), они живут в Санкт-Петербурге. 3. Ты, возможно, забыл свой учебник дома. 4. Можно мне подождать здесь? 5. Может быть, она поймет это позже. 6. Может быть (но маловероятно), он был сегодня на работе.

Exercise 18.  Translate from English into Russian.

1. The patient may be discharged from the hospital soon. 2. The patient may have been discharged by the 15 of the last month. 3. The pain may not have been controlled yet. 4. The doctors might have been wrong in their diagnosis. 5. A serious complication may develop very quickly in this case. 6. His constant tiredness may seriously impair his health.

Exercise 19. Rephrase the following sentences.

Model: Perhaps they are at work. – They may/ might be at work.

1. Perhaps he is waiting outside. 2. Perhaps he has missed the bus. 3. Perhaps they made a mistake. 4. Perhaps he is studying in the library. 5. Perhaps she is a nurse. 6. Perhaps he left yesterday.

Эквивалент глагола may

TO BE ALLOWED TO

Equivalent	Present	Past	Future
to be allowed to	am is allowed to are	was were allowed to	will be allowed to

NB !!! Выражение «TO BE ALLOWED TO» является не единственным эквивалентом глагола MAY в значении «разрешать»; таким же эквивалентом является выражение «TO BE PERMITTED TO». Эти эквиваленты полностью замещают глагол MAY в будущем времени, где у него нет никаких форм, а также могут употребляться в настоящем и прошедшем времени как самостоятельные выражения. Их особенность заключается в том, что по форме они являются пассивными формами, т.е. нам кто-то разрешает что-то делать. Авторитет, разрешающий или запрещающий какое-то действие, может быть указан, а может быть не указан. По стилю эти выражения являются довольно официальными и часто используются в письменной речи (письменные объявления, инструкции и т.д.)

You are allowed / You are not allowed to smoke here. Здесь разрешено / не разрешено курить. (Таковы правила). You are permitted / You are not permitted to use a phone here. Здесь разрешено / не разрешено пользоваться телефоном. (Таковы правила).

Exercise 20. Translate from Russian unto English.

1. Нам разрешают посещать операции. 2. Нам разрешают купаться в этой реке. 3. Нам не разрешают разговаривать на занятиях. 4. Тебе разрешат пойти гулять, когда ты сделаешь домашнее задание? 5. Тебе позволили взять эту книгу? 6. Я думаю, нам не разрешат уйти с лекции (skip the lecture).

Exercise 21. Fill in the gaps with MAY (MIGHT) or TO BE ALLOWED TO.

1. … I bring my sister to the party ? 2. He asked if he … bring his sister to the party. 3. After they had finished their homework, the children … watch TV. 4. Becky’s mother said that everybody … take part in the picnic. 5. He … go home if he likes. 6. The doctor says I am much better, I … get up for a few hours every day.

Exercise 22. Fill in the gaps with was / were allowed to.

1. We … to assist during the operations in our last year at the academy. 2. We … to ask questions after the lecture. 3. When I was young we … to wear whatever we liked to school. 4. When we were children, we … to play outside until it got dark. 5. The students … to make experiments in the new laboratory. 6. Yesterday second-year students … to perform autopsy of the dead animals.

REVISION

Exercise 23. Fill in the gaps with MAY / CAN / COULD.

1. A. … I borrow your pen?

B. No, you … . I’m using it.

2. A. I’m bored. What shall we do?

B. We … go for a walk.

3. A. Sir, … I speak to you for a moment, please?

B. Certainly, but later today. I’m busy now.

4. A. Excuse me, …. you tell me where bacteriological laboratory is, please?

B. Certainly, it’s not far from here, just round the corner.

5. A. Is anyone sitting on this chair?

B. No, you … take it if you want.

TEST

1. Fill in the gaps with CAN / COULD or MAY / MIGHT (or their equivalents).

1. 1.… I leave the room? Is the class over? 2. … I smoke here? – No, you … , smoking is not allowed. 3. … I come and see you this evening? – Of course, you … . 4. When I first came to Spain I … read Spanish, but I … speak it. 5. … I borrow your umbrella? 6. Where … I buy fruit here? 7. He … answer the teacher’s questions yesterday, but he … answer the same questions today. 8. There was a lot of noise in the street last night, and I … sleep.

2. 1. I … be away from home tomorrow. 2. He … have been hurt. 3. It … or … not be true. 4. It was so dark that we … see nothing. 5. It’s cold. … I shut the windows? 6. The letters … have been written long ago. 7. … I have some bread? 8. … you lend me some money? 9. … you hear what he is saying? 10. … this be true?

МОДАЛЬНЫЙ ГЛАГОЛ MUST

Modal verb	Present	Past	Future
must	must	-	-

Отрицательные формы (полная и краткая) – must not / mustn’t (настоящее время).