May(might) be doing may (might) have done

1. Модальный глагол may (might) может выражать предположение, основанное на неуверенности. В этом значении may встречается в утвердительных и отрица­тельных предложениях.

• may (not) + do

  Не may be at home. He may not know about it.	Возможно, он дома. Он может об этом не знать.
  W hat do you think his girlfriend looks like?	She may be pretty. She may be tall. She may have long hair

• may (not) + be doing

He may be reading.	Возможно, он читает.
He may not be writing a letter.	Может быть, он не пишет письмо.

	She may be walking in the park.
W hat may Pamela be doing now?
	She may be visiting her friends.

• may (not)+ have done

He may have come. He may not have done it.	Наверное, он пришел. Может быть, он этого не делал.
	Не may have shouted.
H ow could he react?
	Не may have laughed.

• may (not)+ have been doing

He may have been waiting for us all this time.	Может, он ждет нас все это время.
He may not have been doing anything since morning.	Может, он ничего с утра не делает.

	Не may have been reading.
W hat has he been doing today?
	He may have been visiting friends.

2. Употребление формы might выражает еще меньшую степень уверенности.

Не might be reading.

Возможно, он читает. (Но я совсем в этом не уверен.)

В

!

вопросительных предложениях типа «Может быть, он спит?». Следует упо­треблять модальный глагол сап.

Can he be sleeping now? Can he be working now?

Может быть, он сейчас спит? Может быть, он сейчас работает?

5.12 Put general and special questions with may and might. Give positive and negative answers to them.

e.g.

Не may know this man. May he know this man? Yes, he may. He may know this man. No, he mayn't. He mayn't know this man. How well may he know this man? Who may know this man?

He might know this man. Might he know this man? Yes, he might. He might know this man. No, he mightn't. He mightn't know this man. How well might he know this man? Who might know this man?

1. This girl may study at the university. 2. This man may live in the country. 3. These people may help children. 4. A secretary may translate business letters. 5. My friends may be right. 6. My mother might believe this story. 7. My colleague might play the piano. 8. He might love our secretary. 9. His aunt might cook well. 10. Our friends might be late for the party.

5.13 Make up as many sentences as possible using may or might. Translate the sentences into Russian.

He She They	may might	be wrong. be working still. have left the Institute already. have been working all this time. have been expecting my letter all the time.
He She You They	might	come here more often. have told me about it. have helped the old man. have been more particular about it. have let me know about your illness. have been working there for more than a year. if he (she, you, they) had chose .

5.14 In this exercise you have to talk about your (and other people's) future plans. But you are not sure what is going to happen.

e.g. Where are you going for your holidays? (to Italy?)

I haven't finally decided but I may (or might) go to Italy.

1. What sort of car arc you going to buy? (a Mercedes?) I'm not sure yet but I ………………………………. 2. What are you doing this weekend? (go to London?) I don't know for sure but………….

3. Where are you going to hang that picture? (in the dining-room?)

I haven't made up my mind yet but…………………………………...

4. When is Tom coming to see us? (tomorrow evening?) I'm not sure but ………………………………….. 5. What's Jill going to do when she leaves school? (a secretarial course?) She hasn't decided yet but………………………………

5.15 Paraphrase the sentences using may.

1. Perhaps you left your umbrella in the bus. 2. Perhaps he went to the cafe to wait for us. 3. Perhaps it was Helen who rang you up. 4. Perhaps they came by plane. 5. Perhaps she had a very good English teacher. 6. Perhaps it was too cold for the children to go out. 7. It is possible that he took his children to the zoo. 8. Possibly they did not see us in the crowd. 9. Perhaps Robert used a dictionary. 10. Possibly Mary misunderstood you. 11. Perhaps Henry waited for us there. 12. Possibly Ann returned very late last night. 13. Possibly they have seen the new play. 14. Perhaps Nick has left his exercise-book at home.

5.16 This time you have to talk about possible happenings. Use the word(s) in brackets.

e.g. Do you think it will rain this afternoon? (may). => It may rain this afternoon.

Do you think Ann will come to the party? (might not). => She might not come to the party.

1. Do you think Tom will be late? (may). He ………………………. 2. Do you think Ann will be able to find our house? (might not) She……………………. 3. Do you think there'll be an election this year? (might) . There ……………………4. Do you think Tony will pass the exam? (may not)………………... 5. Do you think they'll be waiting for us when we arrive? (might)….……… ………….. 6. Do you think it'll snow later? (may)…...………………

5.17 Express supposition (предположение) using the verbs in brackets.

e.g. She didn't come. => She may have forgotten about the meeting.

1.Why is she so unhappy? (she / to quarrel with her boy friend) ……………. 2. Let's not call on Mark, (he / to be busy) ……………. 3. Why didn't you tell Steve you were not coming. (he / to wait for you / all this time) ………….. 4. Why hasn't Kate arrived yet? (she / to miss the train) ………. 5. I haven't seen Derrick for a long time. (he /to stay with his friends all this time) ……… 6. Why is the child hungry? (he /not to have dinner) ………... 7. I wish I had gone to the party. (they / to dance now) …………... 8. What are they doing here? (Tom/ to invite them) ……………. 9. Where is he? (he / to have a rest) …………. 10. I've been trying to get Ellen on the phone since morning. (she /to work in the library / since morning) ……………… .

5.18 Transform the sentences using can or may.

e.g. Perhaps he is joking. =>He may be joking.

Is it possible that he is angry? => Can he be angry?

1. Perhaps she is angry……………. 2. Is it possible that he is washing his car?………….. 3. Is it possible that he has returned?……….. 4. Perhaps he is playing tennis …………5. Perhaps he has been working in the garden all this time …………………6. Is it possible that she has been wearing these shoes for five years?……………. 7. Perhaps he has misunderstood you 8. Is it possible that he has lost his job?………. 9. Is it possible that she is badly ill?……………… 10. Perhaps they have been discussing the plan since morning………………… .

5.19 Paraphrase the sentences using may.

1. Perhaps he is at home, but I am not sure he is. 2. It is possible that we studied at the same school, but I don't remember her. 3. Perhaps she was proud of her knowledge, but she never showed it to her classmates. 4. Perhaps there was a chance for him to win the match. 5. Perhaps Peter was as capable as the old workers, but he was given no chance to show his skill. 6. It is possible that your brother has never heard about this singer. 7. Perhaps she tried to enter the university, but failed. 8. It is possible that you asked the wrong people, that's why you didn't get the right answer. 9. Perhaps our friends will arrive here tomorrow. 10. Perhaps they will come home very soon: be ready. 11. Perhaps the question was too difficult for her.

5.20 In this exercise you have to make sentences with may or might. The first four sentences are present.

e.g. 'Do you know if Jack is in his office? ' => 'I'm not sure. He may be in his office. '

'Do you know if Ann likes ice-cream? ' => 'I'm not sure. She might like ice-cream. '

1. 'Do you know if they are married?' 'I'm not sure. They…………...'

2. 'Do you know if she wants to go?' 'I'm not sure ……………...…..'

3. 'Do you know if he's telling the truth?' 'I'm ………………...……..'

4. 'Do you know if the has a car? ' 'I …………………………………'

The next three sentences are past.

e.g. 'Do you know if he was serious?' => 'I'm not sure. He might have been serious. '

'Do you know if they were looking?' => 'I'm not sure. They may have been looking.

5. 'Do you know if she was ill?' 'I'm not sure. She…………………...'

6. 'Do you know if she told anybody?' 'I…………………...………...'

7. 'Do you know if they were listening?'I…………………………….'

And now you have to use may not or might not.

e.g.'Is Jack in his office?' => 'I'm not sure. He might not be in his office. '

8. 'Does she want to go?' '……………………..' 9. 'Is he telling the truth?' '………....'. 10 'Are they ready' '…………….'

5.21 This time you have to write sentences to explain each situation. Use the words in brackets to make your sentences.

e.g. I can't find George anywhere. I wonder where he is.

a) (he might / go / shopping) He might have gone shopping.

2. (he could / play / tennis) He could be playing tennis.

1. Look! Sue's going out. I wonder where she's going.

a) (she may / go / to the theatre)………………………………….

b) (she could / go / to a party)…………………………………….

2. Why didn't Tom answer the doorbell? I'm sure he was in the house at the time.

a) (he may / go / to bed early)……………………………………

b) (he might not / hear /the bell)…………………………………

c) (he could /be/ in the bath)…………………………………….

3. How do you think the fire started?

a) (someone may / drop / a cigarette)……………………………..

b) (it could / be/an electrical fault)………………...……………...

4. I wonder were Tom was going when you saw him.

a) (he might/ go /to work)…………………………………………

b) (he may / go/shopping)………………………………………...

5. George didn't come to the party. I wonder why not.

a) (he might / have / to go somewhere else)………………………

b) the may not / know / about it)………………………………….

5.22 Answer the following questions with suitable suggestions, using may (or might) and the words in brackets.

1	TERRY:	Why is John wearing sunglasses? It's not sunny.
	YOU:	(have some problem with his eyes). He may have some problem with his eyes.
2	JILL:	Why didn't Jane come to the party last night?
	YOU:	(have a party with her boyfriend) She might have had a party with her boyfriend.
3	SUE:	Why is Alan in such a bad mood today?
	YOU:	(sleep badly last night)………………………………...
4	ROY:	Why is Shelley looking under the desk?
	YOU:	(drop something)………………………………………
5	JILL:	Where can I have put my bag?
	YOU:	(be under the bed)……………………………………..
6	ZOE:	Why hasn't anybody said 'Happy Birthday' to me?
	YOU:	(plan a surprise)………………………………………..
7	TIM:	Why does Henry look so miserable (несчастный)?
	YOU:	(have some bad news)…………………………………
8	ELLA:	Why isn't Sophie in the office today?
	YOU:	(work at home)………………………………………
9	JOHN:	Why didn't Rosemary come to the cinema last night?
	YOU:	(feel tired) ……………………………………………..

23. Translate the sentences using may / might.

a)

1. Можно задать вам вопрос? 2. Если у тебя отпуск, ты можешь поехать в Австралию. 3. Мог бы и купить цветы вчера. 4. Могла бы вставать пораньше. 5. Можете оставить багаж здесь. 6. Здесь нельзя громко разговаривать. 7. Могу я подождать Ника в офисе? 8. Можете держать книгу до вторника. 9. Мог бы и предупредить меня заранее. 10. Могла бы делать это побыстрее. 11. Когда приедете в Лондон, можете остановиться у нас. 12. Мог бы предложить нам войти.

b)

1. Возможно, он уже купил новые часы. 2. Может быть, она делает покупки все это время. 3. Наверное, она нашла новую работу. 4. Возможно ли, чтобы они переехали? 5. Возможно, дети купаются. 6. Может быть, он потерял сумку. 7. Возможно, она не хочет вас видеть. 8. Наверное, он не знает, куда идти. 9. Могло ли что-нибудь случиться? 10. Возможно, учитель сейчас проверяет работы. 11. Возможно, он не объяснил ей, что делать.

12. Возможно ли, чтобы он не объяснил ей, что делать?

23. Translate the sentences using may, can, must or their equivalents.

1. Возможно, муж твоей подруги переводит книги. 2. Возможно, у нашего учителя двое детей. 3. Возмож­но, его машина стоит 20 тыс. долларов. 4. Возможно, твои друзья знают наш адрес. 5. Возможно, твоей сестре нравятся красивые вещи. 6. Вы тоже можете сидеть за этим столом. 7. Вы можете работать на этом компьютере. 8. Вы можете открыть дверь. 9. Можно закрыть окно? 10. Можно взять эти газеты? 11. Можно ответить на ваш вопрос? 12. Мы можем помочь вам выбрать подарок для родителей. 13. Я могу сказать вам правду. 14. Ее друг может помочь нам построить дом. 15. Мы умеем играть в гольф. 16. Они тоже умеют играть в регби. 17. Наша секретарша опять могла забыть позвонить вам вчера. 18. Мы могли вчера купить большую вазу, но не купили ее. 19. Мы могли выбрать в магазине любую книгу. 20. Моя тетя не могла спать прошлой ночью. 21. Завтра мы сможем опять поехать за город, если погода будет хорошая. 22. На следующей неделе мой друг сможет к нам приехать. 23. Этот молодой человек и эта девушка скоро смогут пожениться. 24. Сегодня я должен отправить деловое письмо в Англию. 25. Мы должны проверить эту работу. 26. Я должен показать этим людям дорогу на станцию. 27. По дороге домой мы должны купить чай и кофе. 28. Вчера мой коллега должен был уехать в Тулу. 29. На прошлой неделе мой друг должен был поговорить со своим начальником. 30. В прошлом году мы должны были переводить много статей с английского языка на русский. 31. Послезавтра я должен буду купить билеты в театр. 32. В следующее воскресенье мы должны будем встретиться в половине восьмого на вокзале. 33. На следующей неделе моя подруга должна будет каждый день готовить обед ввиду того, что ее мама в больнице.

5.25 Aldo, Jan and Lila are foreign students at an English speaking university. Put each verb in brackets into the Simple Present, Simple Past or Present Perfect.

Aldo I'll be sad to leave here. But I (have to) leave at the end of my course.

Jan I still don't know if I can stay longer or not. I (not be able to) make any plans during the last two years.

Lila My problem was getting in here. I (have to) get a visa before I left home. I wanted to come here a year earlier, but I (not allowed to).

Aldo Money is a problem, too. I (not be allowed to) work since I came here.

Jan Ever since I came here, I (have to) report to the police every week.

5.26 Translate the English proverbs and try to match their Russian equivalents. There may be more than one Russian equivalent. Use the proverbs in the situations of your own.

1 . The wolf may lose his teeth, but never his nature. 2 . Curiosity may have killed the cat. 3. If wishes were horses, beggars might ride.

а. Любопытство убило кошку. в. Если бы желания были лошадьми, то нищие могли бы ездить верхом. с. Привычка – вторая натура. d. Если бы не мороз, то овес бы до неба рос. е. Волк каждый год линяет, да обычай не меняет. f. Любопытной Варваре нос оторвали. g. Если бы да кабы, во рту бы выросли грибы. h. Много будешь знать – скоро состаришься. i. Сколько волка не корми – все в лес смотрит.