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SINTESIS DE PERIODO GRADO NOVENO

May - Might
English Grammar - Modal Verbs

May and Might are modal verbs. They can normally be interchanged without a
significant difference in meaning however Might often implies a smaller chance of
something happening (when expressing possibility).

May and Might

1. To express (future) possibility
There is a chance that something is true or that there is a possibility of something
happening.
Note: Might is used more frequently than May in spoken English.

It might rain later (= it is possible that it will rain)

I might go to the movies tonight. (Though I'm not sure)
I wouldn't talk to Tim right now. He may still be angry after his team lost.
He's very good, in fact, I think he may win the competition.
She might be late because of the public transport strike.

2. To give permission

You may leave the table once you have finished your meal.
You may take only one brochure.
If you have finished the exam, you may leave the room.

May not can be used to NOT give permission or to prohibit someone from doing
something.

You may not park your car in front of the gate.

You may not take more than one brochure.

3. To ask for permission

Note: Can is used more frequently than May in spoken English though May sounds
more polite.

May I sit next to you?

May I borrow your pen?
May I use your bathroom please?
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Note: Might could also be used to request permission but it sounds very old and is
not common.
4. May: to talk about typical occurrences
May is used in academic (or scientific) language to refer to things that typically
happen in certain situations.

Drivers may feel tired if they do not take a break every 2 hours.
Adults may find it difficult to sleep if they use technology before going to
bed.
These tablets may produce serious side effects if not taken in the correct
dosage.

5. Speculate about past actions (May + have + past participle)

She is late. I think she may have missed her plane.

It may have already been broken before you bought it.
What was that noise? It may have been a dog outside our window.

6. To express wishes

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 odds be ever in your favor.
May the Force be with you. :)
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Future I Simple will
Will future expresses a spontaneous decision, an assumption with regard to the
future or an action in the future that cannot be influenced.

Form of will Future

positive negative question

no differences I will speak. I will not speak. Will I speak?

The auxiliary verb will is used in making predictions or simple statements of

fact about the future.

The sun will rise at 6.30 tomorrow.

Lunch break today will be 10 minutes longer than usual.

In the year 2050 all students will have their own computers in school.

If you help me, I will help you.

Do you think she will come soon?

You won't pass your exams if you don't start working harder.

I know my parents won't let me go to the party.

Will it snow for Christmas?

I know she's sick, but will she be back in school tomorrow?

a spontaneous decision
example: Wait, I will help you.

an opinion, hope, uncertainty or assumption regarding the future

example: He will probably come back tomorrow.

a promise
example: I will not watch TV tonight.

an action in the future that cannot be influenced

example: It will rain tomorrow.
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conditional clauses type I
example: If I arrive late, I will call you.

Signal Words
in a year, next , tomorrow
Vermutung: I think, probably, perhaps
Predictions/statements of fact

The First Conditional

The first conditional has the present simple after 'if', then the future simple in the
other clause:

if + present simple, ... will + infinitive

We are talking about the future. We are thinking about a particular

condition or situation in the future, and the result of this condition.
There is a real possibility that this condition will happen. For example, it
is morning. You are at home. You plan to play tennis this afternoon. But
there are some clouds in the sky. Imagine that it rains. What will you
do?

if condition result

Present Simple will + base verb

If it rains, I will stay at home.

Notice that we are thinking about a future condition. It is not

raining yet. But the sky is cloudy and you think that it could rain.
We use the Present Simple tense to talk about the possible
future condition. We use will + base verb to talk about the
possible future result. The important thing about the first
conditional is that there is a real possibility that the condition
will happen.
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Here are some more examples (do you remember the two basic
structures: [if condition result] and [result if condition]?):

if condition result

Present Simple will + base verb

If I see Mary, I will tell her.

If Tara is free tomorrow, he will invite her.

If they do not pass their exam, their teacher will be sad.

If it rains tomorrow, will you stay at home?

If it rains tomorrow, what will you do?

result if condition

will + base verb Present Simple

I will tell Mary if I see her.

He will invite Tara if she is free tomorrow.

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result if condition

will + base verb Present Simple

Their teacher will be sad if they do not pass their exam.

Will you stay at home if it rains tomorrow?

What will you do if it rains tomorrow?

It's used to talk about things which might happen in the future. Of course, we can't
know what will happen in the future, but this describes possible things, which could
easily come true.

If it rains, I won't go to the park.

If I study today, I'll go to the party tonight.
If I have enough money, I'll buy some new shoes.
She'll be late if the train is delayed.
She'll miss the bus if she doesn't leave soon.
If I see her, I'll tell her.

First vs. Zero Conditional:

The first conditional describes a particular situation, whereas the zero
conditionaldescribes what happens in general.

For example (zero conditional): if you sit in the sun, you get burned (here I'm
talking about every time a person sits in the sun - the burning is a natural
consequence of the sitting)
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But (first conditional): if you sit in the sun, you'll get burned (here I'm talking about
what will happen today, another day might be different)