May, might

Exercise 4

Translate into Russian and comment on the use of the modal verb MAY.

1. 'Shall I tell you of what it reminded me?'

'You may’.

‘Of the foul German spectre — the Vampire'.

2. This picture may not be ever shown to the public; you must remember it very well.

3. I wanted to be weak that I might avoid the awful passage of further suffering I saw laid out for me.

4. Georgiana said that I might use the guest rooms in her village cottage as well as her conservatory and gardens.

5. You might have telephoned to the embassy and settled everything with the visa so that I might leave this country.

6. You must have gone by the side door: your boots are muddy.

7. Jack might often be seen sitting on the porch with a pipe in his mouth, contemplating.

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8. I asked if he might bring his wife down next Saturday.

9. Aunt Augusta has invited us both for dinner next Sunday but she is afraid you might be bored.

10. There was so much they had shared together and so much more they might have shared that they had not.

11. Joney said that I might take his car whenever I wanted it.

12. 'Did she say where she was going?'

'She may have left a message.'

12. 'Did she say where she was going?'

'No, but she might have left a message. She knows I am always getting so nervous when she leaves all of a sudden.'

14. 'What has happened to the dog? It is not here.'

'Mom may have taken it round for a walk in the park.'

14. She gave a shrug of impatience. This affair may well fade into nothing.'

Exercise 5

Fill in the blanks with MAY/MIGHT followed by the appropriate form of the infinitive in brackets.

1. 'Who is this elegant woman walking through the garden together with Annie?'

'I don't see from here but it... (to be) her mother. She is always so exquisitely dressed.'

2. '...I (to smoke) here?'

'Yes, it's perfectly all right with me — I never mind when people smoke.'

3. ‘I think we... (to go) skiing to Austria next February. I hope we'll 4p, Jacob is so keen on skiing.'

4. 'Where is Val?'

'I am not certain... I think he ... (to play) squash. Let's go and see if I am right.’

5. 'Where is Val?'

'I have heard something about his love for plants and flow­ers. So he ... (to go) already to the Botanic Gardens without waiting for us.'

6. Take your camera. There you ... (to come across) something worth remembering.

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7. 'Why is he so impatient about returning home as soon as possible?'

'He ... (to hear) from his family and (to learn something that makes him return in a hurry.'

8. Don't turn off the light: father... (to come back) after dark. 'Why are you whispering all this when you can say it all aloud: we are alone.'

9. 'One never knows who ... (to listen) too.'

10. '... I (to look) around? The place is very pretty.'

'Yes, you ... . But don't forget that dinner is served here at seven.'

11. Joan did not approve of Michael's behaviour; she thought:

'He ... (to behave) in a more appropriate way: he knows it is difficult for me to justify his way of life.'

12. 'Where do you suppose he is now?'

'He ... (to be) in New York.'

13. You are welcome to come with me. You ... (to notice) things that I miss.

14. 'Molly, do you know where Mum ... (to put) her address book?'

'No, though I think it... (to lie) still in the hall.'

Exercise 6

Make up situations to illustrate the use of the modal verbs in the following sentences.

► Pattern: It might have been worse.

—Yesterday Mike invited me to a new programme in the circus but Michael did not come and I had to see it all alone. It was terrible.

— It might have been worse. I know Michael is crazy about two things: circus and parachute jumping. Can you imagine yourself doing the latter?

1. He may telephone yet.

2. He may not have recognized you.

3. You might have fallen.

4. He may be reading in his room.

5. From afar the house might have been taken for a small inn.

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Exercise 7

Translate into English using MAY/MIGHT.

1. — Могу ли я позвонить из вашего офиса?

— Да, конечно, можете.

2. На этой выставке можно увидеть полотна выдающихся художников старой школы.

— Могу я поговорить с мистером Венелером?

—К сожалению, он отсутствует. Что я могу ему передать?

4. Может быть, не всё ещё потеряно, и они успеют предупредить его.

5. Возможно, он будет президентом страны. Мне очень этого хочется: он заслуживает этой чести.

6. Зачем ты поехал в горы? Ты же не умеешь даже стоять на лыжах. А если буря? Ты бы мог вообще оттуда не вернуться!

7. Из окна было видно, как ласточки, свившие гнездо под крышей сарая, кормят птенцов.

8. В Москве на главных улицах можно увидеть множество людей со всего света и услышать такие языки, названия которых вы даже не знаете.

9. Возможно, я простила бы Алису, но она продолжает испытывать мое терпение и дальше.

10. — А чем занимается этот юный изобретатель, Аллан?

— Возможно, он в эту минуту занят изобретением вечного двигателя, а, может быть, и ничего не делает.

11. Всё может произойти, но не теряйте присутствия духа и держитесь все вместе. Тогда вы непобедимы.

12. Возможно, вы и правы. В таком случае, нам есть что обсудить и о чём поспорить.

13. Вам нельзя входить в операционных блок. Сюда могут входить только хирурги и медсестры.

14. Можно мне позаниматься в вашей библиотеке? Такого богатого собрания книг я ещё нигде не видел.

15. Может быть, и его пригласят на ужин: он в последнее время стал часто захаживать к ним.

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Exercise 8

Supply the correct form of the verbs CAN and MAY in the sentences expressing permission and prohibition.

1. You ... use my car tomorrow since I do not need it: I am staying at home.

2. 'I ... come in?'

'Yes, do, please.'

3. You... not smoke here. Look, there is a "No smoking" sign over the door.

4. You ... not do it without your parents' consent.

5. You ... go now; but remember what I have told you.

4. I ... not tell you about it. I have promised to keep silent about this.

4. You ... not watch this film until you have completed your homework.

5. No one ... sit down while the King is speaking.

6. Nigel said that I ... stay in his apartment while he was in New York putting his affairs in order.

10. Colonel said that I... come and see him whenever I thought I had important information for him.

Exercise 9

Paraphrase the following sentences using the verbs CAN/COULD and MAY/MIGHT where possible.

1. Perhaps she was busy yesterday and couldn't finish the task in time.

2. Is it possible that he is a good tennis player? I have never known him to be a sportsman.

3. Perhaps you forgot to lock the car door and somebody has stolen it.

4. It is impossible that he should not know about his sister's arrival.

5. Perhaps he will come in time.

6. Is it possible that she has followed her parents' advice?

7. Perhaps he is having lunch now.

8. It is possible that he has already come and you will soon hear from him.

9. It is impossible, I think, to cross this river: it is too wide and full-flowing.

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10. Perhaps he will be invited too as he is a friend of Nick's.

11. Perhaps he telephoned but I was in my office and the answering machine, probably, received his message.

Exercise 10

Translate into English rendering correctly the Russian expressions "может быть" and "не может быть".

1. а) Может быть, пойдёт снег.

b) Может быть, снега не будет.

3. Не может быть, чтобы пошёл снег.

4. Неужели будет снег?

2. а) Может быть, он знает вас.

2. Может быть, он не знает вас.

3. Не может быть, чтобы он знал вас.

4. Неужели он вас знает?

3. а) Может быть, они ждут нас.

2. Может быть, они не ждут нас.

3. Не может быть, чтобы они ждали нас.

4. Неужели они нас ждут?

4. а) Может быть, он потерял ключи.

2. Может быть, он и не терял ключи.

3. Не может быть, чтобы он потерял ключи.

4. Неужели он потерял ключи?

Exercise 11

Make up situations of your own using the following sentences in them. Try to show clearly the difference between the sentences containing the modal verb CAN and the ones containing the verb MAY. (For pattern see Exercise 6).

1. a) He may not be in now.

b) He may not have been in when you called him up.

2. a) He may not have heard from his family yet.

b) He can't have heard from his family.

2. a) He may be reading in his room.

b) He can be hiding somewhere.

4. a) He can't possibly have done it.

b) He may as well give you a lift.