Two new modal auxiliaries may and might

New vocabulary
music saxophone
musical instruments trumpet
guitar flute
piano violin
organ drum

These are things we use to play music

CD player cassette
cassette player tape
CD stereo

These are musical events

concert musical
opera symphony
theater

let's review should

modal verb should
How is everyone today? I'm great we are going to a concert tonight.
I am tired. We played football last night. I went to bed late at night.
You should rest after class. You shouldn't play football tonight.
How are you? I am tired too. I listened to music last night. I bought a new
Madonna CD. It's a very good CD. I should go to bed early tonight.

We learned that should means it's a good idea to do something and shouldn't means
it's a bad idea to do something.
Let's review should and shouldn't
I have an old guitar should I buy a new one?
You shouldn't buy anyone. Your old guitar is good.
I want to go a concert tonight with my friend. Should we drive my car, should we
take by train? should we take a taxi?
You shouldn't try. The traffic will be very bad. You shouldn't take a taxi. They are
very expensive at night. You should take the train. It will be easy for you. The train
goes near the stadium.

look and listen

Tim should go to bed early. He always watches TV late.
It is a good CD you should buy it.
When you go to the theater you should turn off your cell phone.
You always listen to loud music.
It will hurt your ears.
We should go to the opera tonight.
They are playing carmen.

Tom should buy a new stereo. His stereo is old.

Tom shouldn't buy new CDs. His stereo doesn't work.
Paul should go to the theater. His sister is an actress.
Paul should buy her flowers. She will be happy.
Mary shouldn't listen to music. Her brother is studying in the same room.
Tim should study in his bedroom.
The music is loud.

Two new modal auxiliaries

may and might

Modal verbs may and might

We will begin with may. We can use may to ask polite questions.
We can also use may in polite answers.
I don't have my pen, may i borrow your pen.
You may borrow my pen.
May I leave now? I don't want to be late. No, you may not.
Ed wants to go to his piano lesson. May he borrow your car? Yes, he may.
I need a new cassette. May I go to the store? No, you may not. You should do your
homework.

Here may means the same as can for permission. We use may to be polite.

new modal auxiliary verb may

I have a stomachache. May I go to the doctor? Yes, you may. Then you will feel
better.
May i borrow money from you? I am not rich. I have a little money.

Use may with polite questions and answers the negative form of may of course is
may not.
May Paul go to his piano lesson? Yes, Paul may go to his piano lesson. He may not
go to the football match.
May George go outside? No, he may not. It is raining.
May my aunt go with us? No she may not. She doesn't have a ticket.
May I play your guitar? No, you may not. You are never careful.

May and may not

Alberto may I go to the concert with you tonight? Yes, you may. You should have
a ticket. There will be many people at the concert.
May I come late tomorrow? I am very tired. I want to sleep late tomorrow. No, you
may not. You should study.
look and listen
May I sit here? Yes, you may.
I may go to the symphony tonight.
May I come too? Sure
We may go to a cafe after the symphony.
May I bring my friend? No, you may not. Sorry I’m joking.

We use may in polite questions and answers. We can also use may to mean maybe
a 50 / 50 possibility

Is Paula going to the music store tomorrow?

She may go. I'm not sure.
Andy may eat at a restaurant tonight?
He went to the bank this morning.
Louise may play her guitar tomorrow?
Her friend will return it tonight.
Are we driving to the stereo store tonight?
We may drive. My car may be repaired today.
Are you going to study after class?
I don't know. I may study a little. Tonight I will be busy.
What are you going to do tonight? I may go shopping.
Where do you like to shop? I like to go to a music store near my house. They have
many new cities.
What are you going to do this weekend? My friend may come. We may go to the
café.

the negative form may not and that means maybe not
Ed is tired. He may not go to his saxophone lesson tonight.
The weather is very bad the concert may not start on time.
I may not go dancing tonight.
look and listen
Timothy wants to visit a European city.
He may go to London.
Ella wants to dance.
She may go to the disco tonight.
Michael needs a new cassette player.
He may go shopping tonight.
Her mother wants to buy a present for her daughter.
She may buy her a Beatles CD.

May i have tea with you after class? Of course, you may. We may go to a new cafe
for tea.
Are you going to the cafe too? I may not go. I have many things to do. I should
study.
I should buy tickets for the big match this weekend.

A chart to help you remember the new grammar we learned today

the positive form of may
We may buy a new CD.
We have our subject + the modal auxiliary may + the verb + the object or
complement

The negative form of may - may not.

We may not buy a new CD.
subject + may not a short form but may not + verb + object or complement

We can also use may with yes no questions

May we buy a new CD please?
Start with may then add subject then the verb and then object or complement
The difference between some sentences
He will be late.
we can also say
He may be late.

do you see how maybe comes at the

beginning of the sentence and it's one word
usually it's at the beginning but sometimes it goes in the middle of the sentence.
when we use be with may it is two words. May comes after the subject and be
comes after
We may be happy at the theater.
means the same as maybe we will be happy at the theater.

She may be at the cinema.

has the same meaning as
maybe she is at the cinema

Also may is used for present time and possible future time.
She may be at the cinema.
She may go to the cinema tomorrow.

We will learn a new modal auxiliary this one's called might.

Might also means maybe a 50 / 50 possibility.
Tommy might learn how to play the violin.
Her sister might buy the new Janet Jackson CD.
Greg might sing at the cafe tonight.
Molly might go to the theater tonight.
She isn't sure so we can see.
That might means maybe we can use may or we can use might to mean maybe a 50
/ 50 possibility
Tommy might learn to play the violin.
this sentence has the same meaning as
Maybe Tommy will learn to play the violin.

Greg might sing at the cafe tonight.

this sentence means the same as
Maybe Greg will sing at the cafe tonight.

Might means maybe it may or might be possible

Anna might stay at home.
now this sentence means the same as
Maybe anna will stay at home.
look and listen
Tom might buy the new pink CD.
Tara might buy a new song book.
Then she might sing some new songs.
We might go to the concert tonight.
Then we might go to bed early tomorrow night.
Danielle might buy a new cassette player.
She might put it in her bedroom.

What are you going to eat for dinner? I'm not sure. I might go to a restaurant with
my father. He likes the music there. I might eat chicken with rice. Their chicken is
very delicious.
What are you going to do after dinner tonight? I'm going to the concert. I might go
to the cafe after concert. I like their music very much. They might have a small
band at the café.
What kind of music do you like? I like pop music.
The negative form is might not
We don't use a shortened form. It's just might not in the negative form
Might not means maybe not. It might not be possible; It may not be possible;
maybe it won't be possible.
It is raining. They might not go to the concert.
She has a cold. She might not sing tonight.
Millie has no money. She might not buy a new flute.
The concert will be crowded.
My sister might not go.

What are you going to do before the concert tonight? I might not leave until seven.
I don't like going early. The traffic will be bad. I might study before seven.

look and listen

Ted might not play his piano tonight.
He might not have time.
Might not go to the show later. He's tired.
Alan might not like the singer. So we might not go to the concert.
There might not be any tickets.
Here is a chart to help you remember
The modal verbs
We have the positive form of might
Ali might buy the tickets.
We have the subject + might + main verb + the object or complement

We have the negative form which is might not

Ali might not buy the tickets.
Subject + might not + the verb + the object or complement
We can use may and polite questions and answers
We can use may or may not in the answers
May I go to the concert? Yes, you may.
May John play his piano? No, he may not. I am studying.

We can use may or may not to mean maybe or maybe not.

I may not play my drums tonight.
means the same as maybe I won't play my drums tonight.

I may play my drums tonight.

means the same as maybe
I will play my drums tonight.

We use might or might not to mean maybe or maybe not

I might go to the musical tonight.
means the same as maybe
I will go to the musical tonight.

Jennifer might not buy the new CD.

This sentence has the same meaning as
Maybe Jennifer will not buy the new CD.

Things you may do this weekend

Things you might do tonight
Things you might not do this weekend
I may go to the theater.
I may go to my friend's house.
I may visit my grandmother.
I may borrow some CDs from my cousin.
I may practice the piano.

I might take the train to the concert.

I might wear my legends.
I might go to a cafe after the concert.
I might study before the concert.
I might stay at my aunt's house. She lives close to the stadium.

I might not go to the cinema.

I might not watch TV.
I might not listen to music.
I might not go shopping. I don't need anything.
I might not go to my friends. I don't like his new CDs.

It's possible that I will go to the music store. = I may go to the music store.
they have the same meaning

It's possible that I will see you after the concert. = I may see you after the concert.

I won't meet you after the concert. = I might not meet you after the concert.
Maybe we will not go out this weekend. = We might not go out this weekend.

go fishing
go away
go to Italy
monday
new stereo
take a taxi

Where are you going for your holiday?

I'm not sure. I might go to Italy.
What are you doing this weekend?
I don't know I might go away.
When will you see Anna again?
I'm not sure I might see her Monday.
How are you going to get home tonight?
I'm not sure. I might take a taxi.
You have a lot of money! What are you going to do?
I don't know. I might buy a new stereo.