Guessing about now and the future: it may/might/could rain; certainty scale from will to won't; may for permission
I can place guesses on the will-to-won't certainty scale with may/might/could.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Take the umbrella - it might clear up, but it could just as easily pour.
Take the umbrella - it might clear up, but it could just as easily pour.
She may already know about the surprise - her sister can't keep secrets.
She may already know about the surprise - her sister can't keep secrets.
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
The certainty dial:
| Level | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| sure | will | It will rain. |
| likely | will probably | It'll probably rain. |
| 50/50 | may / might / could | It might rain later. |
| unlikely-negative | might not / may not | She might not come. |
| sure-negative | won't | It won't rain. |
may/might/could + bare infinitive are near-synonyms for guesses; only couldn't means impossibility (might not = maybe not). Permission: May I come in? (formal).
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises
Practice Exercisesmaybe as the only hedge
Modal possibility: may/might/could + verb
might not = couldn't
Only couldn't means impossible
Take the umbrella - it might clear up, but it could just as easily pour.
Take the umbrella - it might clear up, but it could just as easily pour.
might/could: twin guesses about the sky.
She may already know about the surprise - her sister can't keep secrets.
She may already know about the surprise - her sister can't keep secrets.
may + be/know: a guess about the present.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises