May, might and could for possibility
Saying that something is possible now or in the future: it might rain later, she may be in a meeting.
Not sure B1 is your level? Find out in 8–40 questions, no account needed.
We use may, might and could + verb to say that something is possible, but we are not sure. They work for the future (It might rain later) and for the present (She may be at home now).
Form: modal + verb
Like other modal verbs, may, might and could are the same for every person, and the verb after them has no to and no ending.
Positive | Negative |
|---|---|
It may rain. | It may not rain. |
She might come. | She might not come. |
We could be late. | (see Negative, below) |
- I may go to the gym after work.
- They might move to Spain next year.
- Incorrect: She mights come to the party.
- Correct: She might come to the party.Modal verbs have no -s.
- Incorrect: I might to see him tomorrow.
- Correct: I might see him tomorrow.After might, use the verb without to.
The future: maybe it will happen
For a future possibility, use may, might or could + verb. Don't add will.
- Take an umbrella. It might rain this afternoon.
- The meeting could finish late.
- I may not be able to come on Friday.
- Incorrect: I might will change my job next year.
- Correct: I might change my job next year.Use one modal verb, not two.
The present: maybe it is true
To guess about the present, use may, might or could + be, or + be -ing for an action in progress.
- "Where's Pavel?" "He might be in the kitchen."
- Don't call now. She may be driving.
- This could be the answer to our problem.
Maybe or may be?
Maybe (one word) is an adverb and goes at the start of the sentence. May be (two words) is the verb.
- Maybe she's at home. = She may be at home.
- Incorrect: May be he's right.
- Correct: Maybe he's right. / He may be right.At the start, maybe is one word.
Negative: may not, might not, not could not
May not and might not mean "perhaps not". Could not is different: it means "it's impossible" (or "wasn't able to").
- He might not know about the change. (Perhaps he doesn't know.)
- We may not have enough time.
- Incorrect: I'm not sure about the party on Saturday. I could not go.
- Correct: I'm not sure about the party on Saturday. I might not go.Could not means "impossible" or "wasn't able to". For "perhaps not", use might not or may not.
How sure are you?
How sure | Example |
|---|---|
sure | It will rain. |
quite sure | It will probably rain. |
possible | It may / might / could rain. |
perhaps not | It may not / might not rain. |
quite sure not | It probably won't rain. |
May and might mean almost the same. Some speakers feel may is a little more formal or a little more likely. Might is very common in conversation.
Can or might?
Can is for things that are generally possible or sometimes happen. For one particular situation now or later, use may, might or could.
- It can be very cold here in January. (It sometimes is.)
- It might be cold tomorrow. Take a coat. (Tomorrow, maybe.)
- Incorrect: "Where's Anna?" "I'm not sure. She can be in the garden."
- Correct: "Where's Anna?" "I'm not sure. She might be in the garden."For a guess about one situation, use might, may or could, not can.
Questions
We don't usually ask about possibility with may. Could is normal in questions (Could this be the right address?). Might is possible but less common. The easiest way is Do you think ...?
- Do you think it'll rain tomorrow?
- Could this be the right address?
Practise this rule
Related rules
Where this rule sits
All B1 rulesModal verbs: all rules