Sir Faisal Amin

Possibilities Modal Verbs with Examples and difference between May and Might, We use may/might for possibility. “May” expresses 50% chances and “Might” 30% chances.
1a) We use may/might + verb 1^st form to say that something is possible to happen in the future.

Note: We can use (be + likely + to) for affirmatives and negatives too in a formal way.
eg) I’m likely to try again.(= I may try again)
eg) I’m not likely to try again. (= I mayn’t try again)
eg) It may rain.

eg) Are we likely to leave for Canada tomorrow?
eg) Some students may fail.
eg) Am I not likely to convince my mother?
eg) Is he likely to win the game?
eg) Are they likely to agree?
eg) She may get angry?
eg) She may accuse me of poisoning her dog.
eg) He mayn’t agree with you.
eg) My father mayn’t agree to my suggestion.
eg) Is she likely to get angry with me?
eg) Teacher may get angry at my behavior.
eg) We may apologize to him for our silly mistake.
eg) He mayn’t believe anybody.
eg) They may congratulate you on your exam results.
eg) You may crash into the car in front.
eg) She may die from/of her injuries.
eg) Aren’t you likely to get disappointed with me?
eg) I may have a long discussion about politics with you.
eg) We may divide this task into three parts.
eg) She may enter into our discussion.
eg) Is he likely to explain this rule to me?
eg) The child may get into the taxi.
eg) We may get off the train in ten minutes.
eg) He mayn’t like the idea of selling the house.
eg) They may insist on paying later.
eg) Students mayn’t take interest in grammar.
eg) Aren’t people likely to laugh at you?
eg) She mayn’t listen to us.
eg) Is she likely to stop looking after me?
eg) Is he likely to start looking for the job?
eg) He may get married to his cousin.

May	Might
eg) He may have tried again. eg) He mayn’t have tried again. Note: For questions of may, we have a special construction. Be(is/am/are) + subject + likely + to …? eg) Is he likely to have tried again? eg) Isn’t he likely to have tried again?	eg) He might have tried again. eg) He mightn’t have tried again. Note: Questions and negative questions aren’t possible.

1b) We use may/might + have + verb 3^rd form to say that something (has) possibly happened.

eg) You may have forgotten something.
eg) She mayn’t have tried seriously.
eg) He may have come on Friday.
eg) Is Asif likely to have forgotten to take medicine?
eg) You may have got nervous.
eg) Are children likely to have got tired?
eg) They may have stayed awake/up the whole night.
eg) The noise may have prevented him from sleeping.
eg) They mayn’t have tried to know the reason for the accident.
eg) He may have forgotten to remind me of the meeting.
eg) Peter may have run into(=meet) his sister on the way to the market.
eg) Guards may have searched everybody’s luggage.
eg) Are custom officers likely to have searched for(=look for) the drugs?
eg) Aren’t you likely to have shouted at(=aggressive) her?
eg) Mary may have shouted to(=call to) us for the tea.
eg) She may have felt sorry for your loss.
eg) Isn’t my sister likely to have taken part in the game?
eg) Naughty boys may have thrown stones at(=aggressive) the cars.
eg) He may have tripped over the cat and fell downstairs.
eg) He mayn’t have bargained for this. (= not prepared for)
eg) Eggs mayn’t have agreed with me. (=have a bad effect)
eg) She may have burst into tears.
eg) Isn’t the robber likely to have come at her with a knife? (=attacked)
eg) He may have come by this scratch during the quarrel. (=obtain)

2a) We use may/might + be + verb 1^st form + ing to say that something is possibly happening now.

May	Might
eg) She may be cooking. eg) She mayn’t be cooking. Note: For questions of may, we have a special construction. Be(is/am/are) + subject + likely + to …? eg) Is she likely to be cooking? eg) Isn’t she likely to be cooking?	eg) She might be cooking. eg) She mightn’t be cooking. Note: Questions and negative questions aren’t possible.

eg) She may be getting nervous.

eg) I mayn’t be pronouncing the word correctly.

eg) Are they likely to be practicing in the ground?

eg) Isn’t he likely to be shopping now?

eg) The patient is pulling through (=recovering)
eg) She may be taking offence. (=bura manana)
eg) Kids may be watching cartoon movie now.
eg) They may be appealing for me in court.
eg) You may be asking for trouble(=inviting it)
eg) Is she likely to be banking on(=rely) his help?
eg) They mayn’t be bearing with (=listen patiently) me.
eg) Is he likely to be breaking with(=breaking relation) her?
eg) They may be calling on me tomorrow. (=visit)
eg) He may be counting on your help.(=rely)
eg) She may be dictating to others.(=order)
eg) They may be digging at me.(=finding faults)
eg) Bills may be eating into my savings.(=using up)
eg) She may be flying into a rage.(=becoming very angry)
eg) Are they likely to be getting into trouble?
eg) Isn’t he likely to be getting over his illness? (=recovering from)
eg) The dog may be going for the postman. (=attacking)
eg) Are our neighbours likely to be objecting to us?
eg) They may be pretending to be ignorant.
eg) Are children likely to be pretending to be asleep?

2b) We use may/might + have +been + verb 1^st form + ing to say that something was possibly happening.

May	Might
eg) She may have been cooking. eg) She mayn’t have been cooking. Note: For questions of may, we have a special construction. Be(is/am/are) + subject + likely + to …? eg) Is she likely to have been cooking? eg) Isn’t she likely to have been cooking?	eg) She might have been cooking. eg) She mightn’t have been cooking. Note: Questions and negative questions aren’t possible.

eg) They may have trying to convince me to take admission.
eg) It may have been drizzling yesterday.
eg) The members of the committee may have been discussing the same problem.
eg) You may have been waiting for me.
eg) Is she likely to have been joking?
eg) The child may have been tossing and turning in bed.
eg) Isn’t he likely to have been listening to the radio?
eg) You may have been keeping a secret from me.(=not tell)
eg) Police mayn’t have been looking into this case thoroughly.(=investigating)
eg) Is she likely to have been thinking about something interesting?
eg) Some people may have been conspiring against me.
eg) You mayn’t have been backing out of your promise.
eg) We may have been deceiving ourselves.
eg) Are they likely to have been celebrating their brother’s birthday with enthusiasm?
eg) Aren’t children likely to have been playing hide and seek?
eg) Aren’t people likely to have been setting vehicles ablaze?
eg) Somebody may have been dashing your hopes.(= Umeedon per pani pherna)
eg) I may have been behaving strangely.
eg) You may have been accusing everybody.
eg) I may have been having difficulty understanding the poetry.
eg) They may have been protesting against us.
eg) Is she likely to have been making a lame excuse?
eg) He may have been losing his self-respect.
eg) Aren’t they likely to have been lying to save their faces?
eg) Child may have been missing his mother.

3a) We use may/might + be + extra words for the possible states in the present.

May	Might
eg) She may be a teacher. eg) She mayn’t be a teacher. Note: For questions of may, we have a special construction. Be(is/am/are) + subject + likely + to …? eg) Is she likely to be a teacher? eg) Isn’t she likely to be a teacher?	eg) She might be a teacher. eg) She mightn’t be a teacher. Note: Questions and negative questions aren’t possible.

eg) You may be worried.
eg) She mayn’t be ready to give presentation.
eg) Are players likely to be in the ground?
eg) Is she likely to be happy after the result?
eg) Pizza may be in the fridge.
eg) Child may be scared.
eg) Are they likely to be interested?
eg) She may be overjoyed after getting the first position in the class.
eg) Is she likely to be ready to face the consequence?
eg) It may be difficult for me to convince him.
eg) It may be bitter in taste.
eg) Is she likely to be in this class?
eg) Is it likely to be cold in Karachi these days?
eg) Isn’t this book likely to be expensive?
eg) Is phone likely to be out of order?
eg) He may be inborn stupid?
eg) Is watch likely to be cheap to look at?
eg) He may be good at talking.
eg) Kids may be sick of watching the same cartoon movie.
eg) She may be absorbed in watching her favourite film.
eg) Most of the students may be absent from the class.
eg) Your decision mayn’t be acceptable to me.
eg) Is he likely to be accompanied by his best friend?
eg) Is she likely to be accused of theft?
eg) Peter may be addicted to smoking.
eg) My mother mayn’t be angry at my behavior.
eg) Your sister mayn’t be afraid of dogs.
eg) My friend may be annoyed at my rudeness.
eg) Everybody mayn’t be anxious about the results.
eg) His father may be away from home.
eg) We may be bored with similarity.
eg) She mayn’t be careful about the health of her kids.
eg) You may be close to tears.
eg) They mayn’t be compatible with each other.
eg) Is he likely to be concerned about his health?
eg) You mayn’t be consistent with your words.
eg) Is his statement likely to be contrary to the fact?
eg) He may be crazy about movies.
eg) You may be cruel to animals.
eg) These people may be deprived of their rights.
eg) He may be dissatisfied with the result.

3b) We use may/might + have been + extra words for the possible states in the past.

May	Might
eg) She may have been a teacher. eg) She mayn’t have been a teacher. Note: For questions of may, we have a special construction. Be(is/am/are) + subject + likely + to …? eg) Is she likely to have been a teacher? eg) Isn’t she likely to have been a teacher?	eg) She might have been a teacher. eg) She mightn’t have been a teacher. Note: Questions and negative questions aren’t possible.

eg) You may have been upset.
eg) I mayn’t have been willing to go.
eg) Are we likely to have been at home at that time?
eg) We may have been disturbed.
eg) Is the child likely to have been with parents?
eg) Isn’t his family likely to have been abroad?
eg) Answers may have been wrong.
eg) He may have been displeased with your laziness.(=napasand)
eg) Is she likely to have been disappointed with my attitude?
eg) Isn’t teacher likely to have been dissatisfied with the result?
eg) She may have been dressed in black.
eg) You mayn’t have been eager for praise.(=mushtaak, aarzumand)
eg) They mayn’t have been eligible for the membership.(=Intakhaab kay liay mozu)
eg) Is he likely to have been engaged to Maria? (=mansoob)
eg) Is the amount likely to have been enough for the work?
eg) Are they likely to have been equipped with knowledge?
eg) He mayn’t have been familiar to me.
eg) You mayn’t have been familiar with this word.
eg) Is she likely to have been famous for her novels?
eg) He may have been fond of chocolates?
eg) Is he likely to have been good at Maths?
eg) Teacher mayn’t have been happy with the results.
eg) We mayn’t have been ignorant of your intentions.
eg) You mayn’t have been impressed by my progress.
eg) I mayn’t have been dependent on others.
eg) It mayn’t have been indifferent to me.
eg) Are they likely to have been interested in buying the bungalow?
eg) You may have been jealous of me.
eg) She mayn’t have been kind to her relatives.
eg) Is he likely to have been against us?
eg) Isn’t weather likely to have been cloudy?

4a) We use may/might + have + extra words for the possible states in the present.

May	Might
eg) She may have a cell phone. eg) She mayn’t have a cell phone . Note: For questions of may, we have a special construction. Be(is/am/are) + subject + likely + to …? eg) Is she likely to have a cell phone ? eg) Isn’t she likely to have a cell phone ?	eg) She might have a cell phone . eg) She mightn’t have a cell phone . Note: Questions and negative questions aren’t possible.

eg) She may have headache.
eg) You mayn’t have enough money to buy a car.
eg) Am I likely to have a chance to go abroad?
eg) He may have a question to ask.
eg) Essay may have mistakes.
eg) Cell phone mayn’t have balance.
eg) The old lady mayn’t have stamina to walk.
eg) Are these people likely to have enough food to survive?
eg) They mayn’t have pass to enter the Hall.
eg) Is wallet likely to have money?
eg) Is he likely to have phone to inform?
eg) He may have an excuse to leave.
eg) She mayn’t have the key to door in her purse.
eg) The gun mayn’t have bullets.
eg) Is he likely to have a bank account?
eg) The tape recorder mayn’t have the fault now.
eg) Isn’t water likely to have germs?
eg) Is bottle likely to have water?
eg) The child mayn’t have stamina to run.
eg) They mayn’t have passion to win.
eg) You mayn’t have eye infection now.

4b) We use may/might + have + had + extra words for the possible states in the past.

May	Might
eg) She may have had a cell phone. eg) She mayn’t have had a cell phone . Note: For questions of may, we have a special construction. Be(is/am/are) + subject + likely + to …? eg) Is she likely to have had a cell phone ? eg) Isn’t she likely to have had a cell phone?	eg) She might have had a cell phone . eg) She mightn’t have had a cell phone. Note: Questions and negative questions aren’t possible.

eg) Car mayn’t have had petrol.
eg) You may have had headache after the meeting.
eg) Wardrobe mayn’t have had more clothes.
eg) The patient may have had chest infection.
eg) Flood victims mayn’t have had enough food to survive.
eg) Are these people likely to have had basic facilities?
eg) Is she likely to have had courage to go against us?
eg) Wallet mayn’t have had money.
eg) Cassette may have had my favourite songs.
eg) Is essay likely to have had mistakes?
eg) Is cell phone likely to have had balance?
eg) He mayn’t have had any idea to solve the problem.
eg) Isn’t tea likely to have had poison in it.
eg) Isn’t the wall likely to have had stains on it?
eg) Isn’t she likely to have had enough money to survive?
eg) She mayn’t have had a new dress for the party.
eg) Is she likely to have the key to the door?
eg) The prisoners mayn’t have had a better idea to escape.