There are several modal verbs used to show possibility.

They are Might, May, Could, and Must. All of these are
different ways to say maybe.

STRUCTURE

Modal Verb + Base Verb

May/Might/Could/Must + Base Verb

May

• May shows possibility in the present or the future.

Present: Where are my keys? They may be in the car.

Future: I may go to the party tonight.

• May is formal and is often found in writing.

Side effects of this medication may include upset stomach

and fever.

Might

• Might shows possibility in the present or future.

Where are my keys? They might be in the car.

I might go to the party tonight.

• Might
is less formal than may, and is more common in
conversation

Could
 • Could shows that something is possible in the present or

future.

Present: Where are my keys? They could be in the car.

Future: We could go to the party tonight.

• Could shows options, or possibility.

Must

• Must shows certainty, or the belief of certainty, from the

speaker.

Certain: Everyone is wearing a jacket. It must be cold.

Belief of certainty:
He was running for 2 hours. He must be tired.
(Although it seems obvious, it is not a fact that the runner is
tired.)

Have to

• Haveto shows certainty, or the belief of certainty, from

the speaker.

Certain: Everyone is wearing a jacket. It has to be cold.

Belief of certainty:
He was running for 2 hours. He has to be tired.
(Although it seems obvious, it is not a fact that the runner is
tired.)

• Have to is much less formal than must, and is common

in
conversation.
Past Possibility

May, Might, and Could are all used to show possibility in the

past.

Modal Verb + Have + Past Participle

He might have brought the cake.

She may have gone home early.
They could have worked late.

Must can be used in the same way to show certainty in the

past.

He must have won the game.

Might Not vs. Could Not

Although Might and Could express possibility in a similar

way, the negative forms of Might and Could are different.

• Might not shows that something probably is not true.

These books might not be the teachers.

• Might not shows that something probably will not

happen
in the future.

I might not go to the party tonight.

• Could not shows that something is impossible.

This could not be the only book available.

She could not know who my friend is. They have
never met.
Question :1
The correct answer was might go

Question :2
The correct answer was must be

Question :3
The correct answer was might be

Question :4
The correct answer was must know

Question :5
The correct answer was might come

Question :6
The correct answer was must know

Question :7
The correct answer was might go

Question :8
The correct answer was must be

Question :9
The correct answer was might be
Question :10
The correct answer was might have

Fill in the spaces with must or might and the correct form of the same verb as the
sentence before.

For example:

He may go to the baseball game.

He might go to the baseball game.
1. Perhaps she will go to the party tonight. She .

2. He worked all day. He tired.

3. Maybe she is at work. She at work.

4. He definitely knows how to fix my bike. He how to fix it.

5. They are not sure if they will come. They to class tomorrow.

6. They know my teacher for sure. They my teacher.

7. I don't know if I will go to see a movie tonight. I to see one.

8. Everyone is wearing a thick jacket. It cold outside.

9. She might be at home, or she at the office.

10. Maybe I will have dinner late tonight. I dinner late.

Question :1
The correct answer was a
Question :2
The correct answer was a

Question :3
The correct answer was b

Question :4
The correct answer was b

Question :5
The correct answer was a

Question :6
The correct answer was b

Question :7
The correct answer was a

Question :8
The correct answer was a

Question :9
The correct answer was a

Question :10
The correct answer was b
1. He left the party early.

a) He must have to work tomorrow.

b) He must to have to work tomorrow.

2. He has to be finished the test by now.

a) He must be finished the test.

b) He might be finished the test.

3. There is new snow outside.

a) It might have snowed last night.

b) It must have snowed last night.

4. He didn't finish the exam on time.

a) He might not had studied.

b) He might not have studied.

5. She doesn't know if she will cook dinner tonight.

a) She might cook dinner.

b) She has to cook dinner.

6. Everyone is smoking outside.

a) You could not be able to smoke in here.

b) You must not be able to smoke in here.

7. He looks very tired.

a) He must have stayed up late last night.

b) He might had to stay up late last night.

8. Everyone received 100% on the math exam.

a) It must have been easy.

b) It could have been easy.

9. That book has her name on it.

a) It has to be hers.

b) It might be hers.

10. Who fixed the chair?

a) It couldn't been Jim. He was at work.

b) It couldn't have been Jim. He was at work.