Might as well / may as well do something
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MIGHT AS WELL / MAY AS WELL DO SOMETHING | |
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(We) might / may as well do somethingmeans (We)should do something(because there is nothing better to do and there is no reason not to do it).
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(Мы) можем сделать что-либо = (нам) следует сделать что-либо, (потому что нет ничего лучше в данной ситуации, и / или нет причины, чтобы не делать этого»). |
Exercise 56
Make sentences from the table to go with these ideas.
Example:
You may as well switch off the TV. Nobody is watching it.
1. ____________________________________________. It’s not very far.
2. ____________________________________. I‘m too ill to go on holiday.
3. __________________________________. It isn’t going to stop raining.
4. ________________________________. No one wants any more to eat.
5. ____________________________________.There’s a chance I’ll get it.
6. _______________________________________. We are not in a hurry.
7. ____________________________. We haven’t got anything else to do.
8. __________________________________. We are both strangers here.
9._______________________________________. No need to bother me.
10. ____________. The medicine prescribed by the doctor is not available.
11. ______________________________________. Nobody is watching it.
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◘ You may as well switch off ... |
...to the station. |
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◘ |
...the table. |
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◘ |
...the hotel bookings. |
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◘ I might as well apply ... |
...the TV. |
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◘ You might as well cancel ... |
...at home today. |
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◘ I might as well clear ... |
...for the job. |
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◘ W e might as well wait ... |
...for the bus. |
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◘ We may as well go out ... |
...for a walk. |
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◘ We may as well ask ... |
...a policeman how to get to the bank. |
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◘ You might as well take ... |
...a dictionary. |
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◘ You might as well consult ... |
...these pills as a substitute. |
You might as well stay...
Exercise 57
Say that you should do something but only because there is no reason not to do it and because there is nothing better to do.
Example:
Shall we have dinner now?
We may / might as wellhave dinner.
1. They would like to leave on Saturday but the planes are full until Sunday.
2. I prefer planes to trains but I can’t afford to take a plane.
3. A friend has invited you to a party. You are not very keen to go but there
isn’t anything else to do.
4. You and your friend have just missed the bus. You either have to wait for
the next bus or to walk.
5. Kate won’t go the dance with Tom but Ann will.
6. You are in a cafe with a friend. You’ve finished your drinks. You are not in
a hurry, so you think you should both have another drink.
7. Someone has given you a free ticket for a football match. You are not a
football-goer, but you think you should go because the ticket is free.
8. You have no idea how to spend the weekend. Your friends suggested
going to the picnic. It sounds interesting.
9. You have no idea what to put on to go to the theatre. Your best dress is at
the dry-cleaner’s, but you also have a silk suit to go out.
10. You are in a snack bar. You’d like to take some mineral water, but they
offer Coca-Cola and Sprite.
Exercise 58
Translate these sentences into Russian, paying attention to the set
expression may / might as wellwhich denotesintentionorrecommendation. It is translated into Russian asС таким же успехом я мог бы….
1. I might as well takeit with me.
2. “I’ll go at six.” “That’s far too late. You might just as well not goat all.”
3. He’ll drive you out on Tuesday, so you may as well make upyour mind to
leave now.
4. “How did you get on?” he said. “It might have been worse, I suppose.”
5. I may as well leaveon Sunday.
6. You may as well goon foot.
7. He might as well cancelthe meeting.
8. She may as well have doneit herself.
9. These are hard words and they may as well not befair.
10. They may not like everything he’s doing, but they may as well be ready
to forgive him.
11. This may as well be his last public appearance.
Exercise 59
Here are some English proverbs with the verb may. Find their Russian equivalents and use some of them in the situations of your own to illustrate their meaning. Share your ideas with the group.
1. A cat may look at a king.
2. A fair face may hide a foul heart.
3. Gather your roses while you may.
4. Never put off till tomorrow what you may do today.
5. Hares may pull the dead lions by the beard.
6. The fox may grow grey but never good.
7. He that comes first to the hill, may seat where he will.
8. Men may meet but mountains never greet.
9. One man may steal a horse while another may not look over a hedge.
10. A fool may ask more questions than a wise man can answer.
11. In the evening one may praise the day.
12. The wolf may lose his teeth but never his nature.
Exercise 60
Translate these sentences from Russian into English. Mind the use of can and its equivalentsin different meanings.
1. Вы, возможно, приняли меня за сестру. Мы близнецы.
2. Можно я сяду здесь?
3. Всё, о чём говорит этот человек, возможно, и правда, но это
случилось давно.
4. Давай сходим в кино. - Можно и в кино. Всё равно делать нечего.
5. На рабочем месте курить запрещено.
6. На этой неделе возможны дожди и грозы.
7. Вы могли бы проконсультироваться со специалистами, прежде чем
подписывать контракт.
8. Она решила, что может воспользоваться машиной отца.
9. Не выбрасывай эти журналы, они могут пригодиться.
10. Не шуми, ты можешь разбудить ребенка.
11. В зоопарке не разрешается кормить животных.
12. Дэвиду разрешили уйти из школы пораньше, так как он себя плохо
чувствовал.
13. До 19 века люди могли свободно путешествовать по многим странам
без паспорта.