The Forms, Meanings and Use of the Modal Verb MAY (MIGHT).
May and
might are
modal auxiliary verb, like for example
must ,
can and
ought. These verbs have no infinitives or participles (
to may,
mighted,
maying do not exist), question and negatives are made without
do (
may I?, not
Do I may?). Like other modal verbs, 'may' has no
�s on the third person singular (
he may, not
he mays); 'may' and 'might' are followed by infinitives without
to.
Patterns. Read and memorize! | Affirmative | Interrogative | Negative |
|---|
| I may attend lectures at the University. | May I attend lectures at the University? | I may not attend lectures at the University. |
| He may attend lectures at the University. | May he attend lectures at the University? | He may not attend lectures at the University. |
| She may attend lectures at the University. | May she attend lectures at the University? | She may not attend lectures at the University. |
| It may go. | May it go? | It may not go. |
| We may attend lectures at the University. | May we attend lectures at the University? | We may not attend lectures at the University. |
| You may attend lectures at the University. | May you attend lectures at the University? | You may not attend lectures at the University. |
| They may attend lectures at the University. | May they attend lectures at the University? | They may not attend lectures at the University. |
Note 1: - The modal verb 'may' has two forms �
may in the present and
might in the past. The missing tense is supplied by the future of
to be allowed to.
E. g. : I
shall be allowed to attend lectures at the University.
He
was allowed to come later.
Note 2: - Contracted negative forms exist:
mightn�t is common, but
mayn�t is very unusual.
?
Might does not normally have a past sense, but it can be used as the past tense of 'may' in 'indirect speech' to report the giving of permission.
- 'What are you doing here?' � 'The manager said that I might look round.'
- He said that we might take his car.
