Изучите следующую ситуацию:

Вы ищете Боба. Никто не знает наверняка где он, но вот вам дают некоторые предположения:

Мы используем may или might, когда говорим, что что-то возможно. Как правило, вы можете использовать may или might, поэтому вы можете сказать:

• It may be true. или It might be true. (= возможно, это правда.)
• She might know. или She may know.

Отрицательными формами являются may not и might not (или mightn’t):

• It may not be true. (= возможно, это не правда)
• She might not work here any more. (= возможно, она здесь не работает)

Изучите структуру этих предложений:

В прошедшем времени мы используем may have (done) или might have (done):

• A: I wonder why Kate didn’t answer the phone.
  B: She may have been asleep. (= возможно, она спала)
• A: I can’t find my bag anywhere.
  B: You might have left it in the shop. (= возможно, ты оставила ее в магазине)
• A: I was surprised that Kate wasn’t at the meeting yesterday.
  B: She might not have known about it. (= возможно, она не знала)
• A: I wonder why David was in such a bad mood yesterday.
  B: He may not have been feeling well. (= возможно, он плохо себя чувствовал)

Структура этих предложений:

Could схож may и might:

• It’s a strange story, but it could be true. (= it may/might be true)
• You could have left your bag in the shop. (= you may/might have left it)

Но couldn’t отличается от may not и might not. Сравните:

• Sarah couldn’t have got my message. Otherwise she would have replied.
  (= не может быть, что она получила моё сообщение)
• I wonder why Sarah hasn’t replied to my message. I suppose she might not have got it.
  (= может быть, она получила, а может и нет)

Упражнения

1. Перепишите эти предложения, используя might.

1. Perhaps Helen is in her office.
   
2. Perhaps Helen is busy.
   
3. Perhaps she is working.
   
4. Perhaps she wants to be alone.
   
5. Perhaps she was ill yesterday.
   
6. Perhaps she went home early.
   
7. Perhaps she had to go home early.
   
8. Perhaps she was working yesterday.
   

В предложениях 9-11 используйте might not.
9. Perhaps she doesn’t want to see me.
   
10. Perhaps she isn’t working today.
    
11. Perhaps she wasn’t feeling well yesterday.
    

2. Закончите каждое предложение глаголом в правильной форме.

1. ‘Where’s Sam?’ ‘I’m not sure. He might lunch.’
2. ‘Who is that man with Emily?’ ‘I’m not sure. It might her brother.’
3. A: Who was the man we saw with Anna yesterday?
   B: I’m not sure. It may her brother.
4. A: What are those people doing by the side of the road?
   В: I don’t know. They might for a bus.
5. ‘Do you have a stamp?’ ‘No, but ask Simon. He may one.’

3. Прочитайте ситуацию и составьте предложения из слов в скобках, используя might.

1. I can’t find Jeff anywhere. I wonder where he is.
   a (he / go / shopping)
   
   b (he / play / tennis)
   
2. I’m looking for Sarah. Do you know where she is?
   a (she / watch / TV / in her room)
   
   b (she / go / out)
   
3. I can’t find my umbrella. Have you seen it?
   a (it / be / in the car)
   
   b (you / leave / in the restaurant last night)
   
4. Why didn’t Dave answer the doorbell? I’m sure he was at home at the time.
   a (he / go / to bed early)
   
   b (he / not / hear / the doorbell)
   
   c (he / be / in the shower)
   

4. Закончите предложения, используя might not have ... или couldn’t have ... .

1. A: Do you think Sarah got the message we sent her?
   B: No, she would have contacted us.
   
2. A: I was surprised Kate wasn’t at the meeting. Perhaps she didn’t know about it.
   B: That’s possible.
   
3. A: I wonder why they never replied to our letter. Do you think they received it?
   B: Maybe not. They ...
   
4. A: I wonder how the fire started. Was it an accident?
   B: No, the police say it ...
   
5. A: Mike says he needs to see you. He tried to find you yesterday.
   B: Well, he very hard. I was in my office all day.
6. A: The man you spoke to - are you sure he was American?
   B: No, I’m not sure. He ...