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May and Might are modal verbs.

They can normally be interchanged without a significant difference in meaning.

May and Might more or less have the same meaning. (We will see more about this later)

With modals verbs, there is only one form of them for every subject pronoun.

For example with the modal verb MIGHT. We say...

I might

You might

He might

She might

It might

We might

They might

The same happens with MAY ... I may, you may, he may, she may, it may, we may, they may.

Just like the other modal verbs, there is never an S at the end of may or might:

She mights stay. (This is NOT CORRECT)

She might stay. (This is CORRECT)

After MIGHT or MAY we have the verb, or more specifically, the base form of the infinitive.

This means the infinitive without To. For example the infinitive is To Go so the base form is just the Go part.

Instead of To Study, only study. Instead of To speak, we only put Speak after the modal verbs MIGHT and MAY.

For example:

(This is NOT correct - we don't use all of the infinitive - we need to remove the TO part)

So we say...

You might go. (This is correct)

Also:

(This IS NOT correct - we don't conjugate the verb so no S is necessary - we need the base form of the infinitive)... so we say...

She might know. (This is correct)

Example Sentences using MAY and MIGHT

Some example sentences with May and Might are...

I might watch another episode.

You may bring a partner to our event.

He may have been

She might tell us what happened if we ask her.

It might rain this afternoon.

We may be invited but I'm not sure.

They might go to the beach this weekend.

When do we use MAY and MIGHT in English?
1. We can use May and Might - To express possibility
There is a chance of something being true or there is a possibility of something happening.

Note: Might is used more frequently than May in spoken English.

Take an umbrella, it might rain later. (This means there is a possibility that it will rain later)

You can also say... it may rain later.

I think she may win the singing competition ...because her voice is amazing.

They might be late because of the bus strike.

2. We can use May To ASK FOR permi ssion
Note: May sounds more polite than using Can or Could when asking for permission.

It is best to use PLEASE in the question to make it more polite?
3. We can also use May - To GIVE permission
Note: In theory, Might can also be used to request permission but it sounds very formal and is rare.
4. To NOT give permission
We do NOT use Might to give permission.
5. May: to talk about typical occurrences
We can use May not to NOT give permission or to PROHIBIT someone from doing something.
6. MAY and Might are used to Speculate about past actions.
May is used in academic (or scientific) language to refer to things that typically happen in certain situations.

Here we are saying that something was possible in the past but we are not sure.

For this situation we use (May + have + the past participle)
7. We can use MAY To express wishes
With all of these examples, they were possible but we are not sure.

When expressing wishes, only May is used.

May you both live a long and happy life together.

May the New Year bring you love and happiness.

May all your wishes come true.

May the Force be with you.

MAY & MIGHT Summary Chart

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May and Might are modal verbs. They can normally be interchanged without a significant difference in meaning. May and Might more or less have the same meaning. (We will see more about this later) With modals verbs, there is only one form of them for every subject pronoun.

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Woodward English - Learning English - Teaching English

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In our last lesson, we saw how to use the modal verb MUST in English.

Sometimes HAVE TO is used instead of MUST.

For example you may hear:

I must write a letter to John. OR

I have to write a letter to John.

What is the difference between MUST and HAVE TO?

MUST and HAVE TO are both used to express an obligation, responsibility or necessity.

While Must can generally be replaced by Have to in the present tense, there is sometimes a slight difference in meaning or use.

Let's look at our previous example using MUST:

I must write a letter to John.

We generally use must when the speaker decides that something is necessary, or needs to be done.

In this case I have decided that I need to write a letter to John. Nobody else has told me to write it. I think it is necessary.

The other example with HAVE TO.

I have to write a letter to John.

We use have to when somebody else other than the speaker has made the decision.

So here, I didn't decide to write a letter. Somebody else has told me to write it, somebody else told me it was necessary to do.

Let's look at some more examples:

I must book a hotel for my trip next week.

Here I am reminding myself that it is necessary to do. I have decided that it is necessary.

Our boss makes us wear a uniform. It is an obligation that our boss has decided that is necessary. I, the speaker, am not making this obligation, someone else is.

Compare the following sentences:

The Teacher says: You must complete the essay by Friday

The Student says: We have to complete the essay by Friday.

The teacher has used MUST because he or has is giving the students an obligation.

Since the teacher has given us the obligation, we use have to. This is because somebody else, in this case the teacher, has told us what needs to be done.

When we mention someone else's obligation, then we use the correct conjugation of Have to.

For example:

Mike can't come because he has to work tomorrow.

It is Mike's obligation to fulfill his work commitments.

Susan and Steve have to pay their rent every Friday.

They both have the obligation to pay their rent on that day.

In both examples you would not use MUST because we are talking about someone else's obligations.

Questions - Must or Have to?

For questions it is much more common to use Have to instead of Must (Must sounds very formal):

Normally, you will not hear someone say "When must you finish the report?" as it doesn't sound natural.

Note however that you may still hear MUST used in questions, though mainly in British English.

Must you leave right now? (Possible, though rare. More likely in British English)

Do you have to leave right now? (Much more common in general spoken English)

MUST in different tenses

Must is only used in the present tense and sometimes to express the future. We use a form of have to for the other tenses.

The past tense of Must is Had to:

I had to pay my speeding ticket yesterday.

She had to give a presentation to her boss.

The future tense of Must is Will have to:

I will have to leave work early tomorrow.

In spoken English we would use the contraction I'll instead of I will. I'll have to leave...

However, sometimes Must is also used to express future obligation.

I must leave work early tomorrow

Though the version with will have to is much more common.

Have to vs. Have got to

In informal English, have got to is sometimes used instead of have to.

Note that the subject and have/has are almost always contracted before got to in spoken English.

I've got to ... is a contraction of... I have got to ... which is the same as ... I have to.

He's got to ... is a contraction of... He has got to ... which is the same as ... He has to.

Let's look at the three ways of saying the same thing:

I've got to tidy my room before I can go out.

I have got to tidy my room before I can go out.

I have to tidy my room before I can go out.

Some more examples:

We've got to study for the exam. (We must study for the exam)

She's got to bring her ticket or she won't get in. (She must bring her ticket, or she has to bring her ticket)

He's got to be more patient. (He must be more patient)

Here are two sentences:

They both mean the same thing.
However, when an adverb of frequency is used, have to used instead of have got to.

MUST vs. HAVE TO Summary Chart

In general, Have to is more frequent in conversation (or spoken English) than Must.

Must is used more in formal writing, especially in written notices, rules or instructions.

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The difference between MUST and HAVE TO in English. We also look HAVE TO vs. HAVE GOT TO. Includes example sentences

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Woodward English | Learning English - Teaching English

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Should – English Modal Verb Woodward English

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The modal verb SHOULD in English. Explanation of different uses of SHOULD with example sentences

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Should – English Modal Verb

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to express beliefs about the present or future

to talk about what people want to do or are willing to do

to make promises, offers and requests.

is the past tense form of will. Because it is a past tense, it is used:

to talk about the past

to talk about hypotheses (when we imagine something)

for politeness.

Beliefs

We use would as the past of will, to describe past beliefs about the future:

I thought we would be late, so we would have to take the train.

Willingness

to talk about what people want to do or are willing to do:

to talk about typical behaviour, things that we often do (because we are willing to do them):

We always spend our holidays at our favourite hotel at the seaside. We'll get up early every morning and have a quick breakfast then we'll go across the road to the beach.

We use would as the past tense of will:

to talk about what people wanted to do or were willing to do in the past:

to talk about typical behaviour, things that we often did (because we were willing to do them) in the past:

When they were children they used to spend their holidays at their grandmother's at the seaside. They'd get up early every morning and have a quick breakfast. Then they'd run across the road to the beach.

Promises, offers and requests

I'll give youa lift home after the party.
We'll come and see you next week.
Level: intermediate
Hypotheses and conditionals

We use will in conditionals to say what we think will happen in the present or future:

when we imagine a situation:

I would give her a call if I could find her number.
If I had the money, I'd buy a new car.
Youwould lose weight if you took more exercise.
If he got a new job, hewould probably make more money.
What if he lost his job? Whatwould happen then?

We also use conditionals to give advice :

Past tenses are more polite:

See also: Verbs in time clauses and conditionals
Level: beginner
Expressions with would

We use:

Would you carry this for me, please?
Would you mind carrying this?
Would you mind not telling him until tomorrow?

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to express beliefs about the present or future to talk about what people want to do or are willing to do to make promises, offers and requests. is the past tense form of will . Because it is a past tense, it is used: to talk about the past to talk about hypotheses (when we imagine something) for politeness.

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English Grammar - Modal Verbs

Would is a modal verb. Would is often used in conditional sentences with a clause beginning with "If..." but it can also be used in the following situations:

WOULD
1. Used as a polite invitation or to offer

Would you like to go to the movies with me tonight?

Would you like some more tea?

I would be happy to help you with preparation for your exam.

When someone asks a question to invite you or offer you something using Would, the response can be: Yes, I would OR No, I wouldn't.

Would you like to have a coffee with me? Yes, I would.
2. Describe a prediction (hypothetical situations)

It would be nice to have a barbecue.

Nobody would believe me if I told them I had seen a UFO.

3. To not sound impolite when disagreeing with someone

I would like to point out that you need to review those numbers.

I wouldn't agree with that.

4. To describe past habits

Before internet people would send letters to each other.

When I was at school I would get up before everyone else in our house.

(This is similar to using )
5. Future in the past
We use would when we are talking about the past but we want to talk about something which was in the future at that time (in the past).

When I was in Paris last year I thought I would spend hours sitting at coffee shops writing ideas for my novel.

She promised she would send a postcard from Peru.

I told you he would help us.

6. Wouldn't: To describe a past unwillingness (refusal)

He said he wouldn't help us.

My son wouldn't eat his food.

Next activity

See our grammar notes about other Modal Verbs.

See our grammar notes about conditional sentences:

If you found this grammar guide about Would in English useful, let others know about it:

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Would is a modal verb. Would is often used in conditional sentences with a clause beginning with "If..." but it can also be used in the following situations: 1. Used as a polite invitation or to offer Would you like to go to the movies with me tonight?

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Modal verbs are a part of the larger category called auxiliary verbs which are verbs that cannot be used on their own. They need to be accompanied by another (main) verb. Sometimes modal verbs are called modal auxiliaries.

The following words are modal verbs: Can, Could, May, Might, Must, Shall, Should, Will, Would.

They are modal auxiliary verbs that provide additional information about the verb that follows it.

Modal verbs are used to express ability, obligation, permission, assumptions, probability and possibility, requests and offers, and advice. Each modal verb can have more than meaning which depends on the context of that sentence (or question).

You can go now. (= permission)

I can play the guitar. (= ability)

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Subject + Modal Verb + Verb (base form of the infinitive

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Subject + Modal Verb + not + Verb (base form of the infinitive)

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Modal Verb + Subject + Verb (base form of the infinitive)

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Can Can't Cannot | Learn English Grammar | Basic English Lesson by Woodward English

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English Grammar - Modal Verbs

Both Can and Could are Modal Verbs. In general Could is considered more polite (or formal) that Can.

CAN

The three main uses of Can are: 1) ability 2) possibility and 3) permission. However there are some other used of Can as we will see below.
1. To express ability
Can means to be (physically) able to do something OR to know how to do something.
2. To express a possibility (in general)
This refers to a theoretical possibility.
Note: we don't use can to talk about future possibilities. For this you would use may or might.

It can get cold there at night so take a jacket.

I know you can win the competition.

Well, I think your car can be repaired, but it's not going to be cheap.

3. To offer to do something for others
Can is used when you offer to help someone or to do something for them.

4. To ask for or give permission / To request something
Can is used to ask for / request permission or to give permission.
Note: Can't is used to refuse permission.

You can use my umbrella, I don't need it right now.

Can I sit in that chair please?

Mary, you can play outside if you like.

Can I ask you a question?

You can't go to the park. It will still be wet from the rain last night.

We can't leave the room until the assignment is completed.

5. Can't: Something that is forbidden or not allowed

We cannot park the car next to this fire hydrant.

You can drive as fast as you want on the German motorways.

You can't smoke in the restaurant.

You cannot drive a car without a license.

6. Can't: when you are sure that something isn't true or something is surprising
For more examples, including how to make questions, see our grammar notes about Can - Cannot. You might also want to see our Can - Can't - Cannot Game

COULD

Could is similar to Can and often replaces Can in the past tense (though not always)
1. To express ability in the past

I could ride a horse when I was younger but now I can't.

She could juggle eight balls when she was only 10 years old.

He could read when he was three years old.

2. Polite word used to ask for permission or to request something (in the present)

Could I please use your bathroom?

Could we move on to the next topic now please?

Could you pass me the salt please?

I'm busy right now. Could you call back later?

3. General permission in the past 4. A suggestion when asked what to do (choices and opportunities)5. Couldn't: Sure that something is untrue
Just like can't, you can use couldn't when you are sure that something isn't true or real.
6. Could + have + past participle: To express a possibility in the past
To express that something was possible but did not happen.
7. Could + have + past participle: Unrealised past ability
This is used to say that someone was able to do something, but they did not try to do it. Sometimes this is a form of criticism.
8. Could: A conditional form of Can
Would + Can = Could. Note: Would be able to can replace could in the following examples.

Can vs Could Summary Chart

Next activity

See our more simple notes about Can and Cannot.

See our notes about other Modal Verbs.

If you found these English Grammar Rules about Can vs Could interesting or useful, let others know about it:

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Both Can and Could are Modal Verbs. In general Could is considered more polite (or formal) that Can. The three main uses of Can are: 1) ability 2) possibility and 3) permission. However there are some other used of Can as we will see below. 1.

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English Grammar Games

This English grammar game is to help you learn about Can, Can't and Cannot.

Complete the sentence with the appropriate word.

If you would like to read some Grammar Notes about Can and Cannot, visit this page: Can - Cannot.

NEW: Download our free Can vs Cannot Worksheet (in PDF).
You can check the answers to this worksheet here: Can vs Cannot Answers.

If you found this English Grammar Game about Can and Cannot fun or useful, let others know about it:

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This English grammar game is to help you learn about Can, Can't and Cannot. Complete the sentence with the appropriate word. If you would like to read some Grammar Notes about Can and Cannot, visit this page: Can - Cannot. NEW: Download our free Can vs Cannot Worksheet (in PDF).

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Could you? English Conversation Practice

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Do you know any songs with the modal verb COULD?

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Do you know any songs with the modal verb COULD?

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Put the name of the song in the coments section below.

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Look at some examples using COULD in movies and TV series

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Look at some examples using COULD in movies and TV series

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COULD - Modals in English, examples | Hollywood English