Modal : may/might (English exercise n°48099 - Please quote this number when contacting us)


Other English exercises on the same topic

Modal : may/might

'May' is a modal auxiliary.

 It does not take an  's' in the present tense.

 

The past tense or conditional is 'might'.

 

You use it like an auxiliary in the interrogative and negative forms:

   May I go out?  no, you may not.

 

It has no infinitive form.

 

It has no participle.

 

If you want to use it in a tense which is not present or past you have to use 'to be allowed to'.

 

 

'May' is used to express :

 

Permission:

May I go out Mum?

You may eat some cake Jim.

 

Probability:

He may come late.

He may be on holidays.

Suggestion or reproach with 'might':

He doesn't know what to do; he might ask Wendy.

You might have done the washing-up !

 

Wish :

May this year bring you happiness and health !

 

May/ might are sometimes used with a past participle :

He might have been killed !

He may have phoned while I was having a shower.

 

Beginners
English exercise "Modal : may/might" created by lucile83 (03-08-2008) with The test builder
Click here to see the current stats of this English test

1. Take your umbrella as it might rainedmay rainmay rains today.
2. He is still at work ! He might camemay comemay comes late I am afraid.
3. John couldn't repair his washing-machine; he might have askedmights askmay asked his neighbour.
4. They talked too loudly, They might have wokenmight have wakemight has woke the baby !
5. Darling! I wonder if I might offermight offersmay offer you that marvellous car you saw yesterday ?
6. Mum ! My friends are having a party tonight ; may I gomay I gonemay they go please?
7. Sweetheart ! As you were at home you might have domay have donemight have done the ironing , don't you think ?
8. Yes darling, but I was afraid I might have burntmay burnmight burned your marvellous shirt !
9. He might ismay bemay been late because his flight has been delayed.
10. Look at those clouds ! It mays rainmay rainwill may rain in a minute.

---

End of the free exercise to learn English: Modal : may/might (08.02.2010 20:53)
A free English exercise to learn English.
Other English exercises on the same topic | All our lessons and exercises