Grammar: modals may and might

NOTE:

• We can use may or might to say that something is a possibility:

E.g. It may be true. or . It might be true (= perhaps it is true)

I/you/he (etc.)

may (not) might (not)

be (true/in his office etc.) be (doing/going/joking etc.) know/work/want etc.

• For past we use may have (done) and might have (done).

E.g. I wonder why Kate didn’t answer the phone. She may have been asleep. (= perhaps she was asleep)

I can’t find my bag anywhere. – You might have left it in the shop. (= perhaps you left it in the shop)

I was surprised that Kate wasn’t at the meeting yesterday. - She might not have known about it. (= perhaps she didn’t know)

I wonder why David was in such a bad mood yesterday. – He may not have been feeling well. (= perhaps he wasn’t feeling well)

I/you/he (etc.)

may might

(not) have

been (asleep / at work etc.) been (doing / looking etc.) gone / got / known etc.

• Could is similar to may and migh.

E.g. It’s a strange story, but itcould be true. (= it may/might be true)

You could have left your bag in the shop. (= you may/might have left it in the shop)

But couldn’t (negative) is different from may not and might not. Compare:

Sarah couldn’t have got my message. Otherwise she would have replied. (= it is not possible that she got my message)

I wonder why Sarah hasn’t replied to my message. I suppose she might not have got it. (= perhaps she didn’t get it, and perhaps she did)

9.	Write these sentences in a different way using might. In sentences 8-10 use might not.

Example: Perhaps Helen is in her office. – She might be in her office.

1. Perhaps John is busy.

2. Perhaps he is working.

3. Perhaps he wants to be alone.

4. Perhaps Ann was ill yesterday.

5. Perhaps she went home early.

6. Perhaps she had to go home early.

7. Perhaps Jill was working yesterday.

8. Perhaps she doesn’t want to see me.

9. Perhaps she isn’t working today.

10. Perhaps she wasn’t feeling well yesterday.

10.	Complete each sentence with a verb in the correct form. The first one is done for you.

1. ‘Where’s Sam?’ - ‘I’m not sure. He might be having lunch.’

2. ‘Who is that man with Emily?’ – ‘I’m not sure. It might ______ her brother.’

3. ‘Who was the man we saw with Emily yesterday?’ – ‘I’m not sure. It may ______ her brother.’

4. ‘What are those people doing by the side of the road?’ – ‘I don’t know. They might ______ for a bus.’

5. ‘Do you have a stamp?’ – ‘No, but ask Simon. He may ______ one.’

11.	Read the situation and make sentences from the words in brackets. Use might. The first one is done for you.

1. I can’t find Jeff anywhere. I wonder where he is.

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

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

2. I’m looking for Sarah. Do you know where she is?

1. (she / watch / TV /in her room)________________________________

2. (she / go / out) _____________________________________________

3. I can’t find my umbrella. Have you seen it?

1. (it / be /in the car)___________________________________________

2. (you / leave / in the restaurant last night) ________________________

4. Why didn’t Dave answer the doorbell? I’m sure he was at home at the time.

1. (he / go / to bed early)_______________________________________

2. (he / not / hear / the doorbell) _________________________________

3. (he / be / in the shower) ______________________________________

12.	Complete the sentences using might not have… or couldn’t have…The first one is done for you.

1. Do you think Sarah got the message we sent her? – No, she would have contacted us. She couldn’t have got it.

2. I was surprised Kate wasn’t at the meeting. Perhaps she didn’t know about it. – That’s possible. She _______________________________________

3. I wonder why they never replied to our letter. Do you think they received it? – Maybe not. They ____________________________________________

4. I wonder how the fire started. Was it an accident? – No, the police say it __

5. Mike says he needs to see you. He tried to find you yesterday. – Well, he _____________________ very hard. I was in my office all day.

6. The man you spoke to – are you sure he was American? – No, I’m not sure. He __________________________________________________

LAUGHS PARADE

Heartless

“John, is it true that you were wounded?”

“Right, Jim, the bullet hit my chest.”

“And how did it miss your heart?”

“My heart was in my boots at that moment.”

Drilling by the Numbers

“Private Atkins, why have you faced about at the preliminary command? There was no executive command.”

“I understand you at half word, sergeant.”

Puzzling Question

“What is the sentry doing when a crow alights on his submachine gun?”

“He’s sleeping.”

UNIT: 28

PEACEKEEPING

Lesson 5

COMBAT SEARCH AND RESCUE

1.

In this exercise we’ll concentrate on the words and word combinations to be sure you know what they mean

1	helicopter	a type of aircraft which derives both lift and propulsion from one or two sets of horizontally revolving overhead rotors. It is capable of moving vertically and horizontally, the direction of motion being controlled by the pitch of the rotor blades
2	detachment	a group of troops, aircraft, or ships sent away on a separate mission
3	assets	military equipment, such as planes, ships, communications and radar installations, employed or targeted in military operations
4	available	able to be used or obtained; at someone's disposal
5	cargo	goods carried on a ship, aircraft, or motor vehicle
6	sling	a flexible strap or belt used in the form of a loop to support or raise a weight
7	combat	fighting between armed forces
8	range	the distance that can be covered by a vehicle or aircraft without refuelling
9	reconnaissance	military observation of a region to locate an enemy or ascertain strategic features
10	cannon	a heavy automatic gun, especially one that is fired from an aircraft
11	winch	a hauling or lifting device consisting of a rope or chain winding round a horizontal rotating drum, turned typically by a crank or by motor
12	squadron	an operational unit in an air force consisting of two or more flights of aircraft and the personnel required to fly them
13	maintenance	the process of keeping something in good condition
14	spare part	an item kept in case another item of the same type is lost, broken, or worn out

2.

Read the text and translate it into Ukrainian.