MAY, MIGHT AND WILL FOR

FUTURE PREDICTIONS

Contreras Rocha Naomy Linette

5IM9
 MAY
A verb that is used to refer to a hypothetical situation, which may be
possible.

SUBJECT + MAY + PRINCIPAL VERB + COMPLEMENT

• They may forgive me. 
Ellos pueden perdonarme.  Note in the examples that when
we use the word "puede" we
• She may decide to travel to Spain.  refer to a probability and not to
Ella puede decidir viajar a España. the ability to do something,
since in this case we would use
• He may accept your request.  the modal verb CAN.
Él puede aceptar tu pedido.
 NEGATIVE
For negatives, use not. 

SUBJECT + MAY NOT + PRINCIPAL VERB + COMPLEMENT

• He may not be here on time

• Él no puede estar aquí a tiempo
• She may not go to work today.
• Puede que ella no vaya al trabajo hoy.
• She may not apologize her friend.          
• Ella no puede disculpar a su amiga.
 INTERROGATIVE
Change the order of may and the person.
MAY + SUBJECT + PRINCIPAL VERB + COMPLEMENT + ?

• May I borrow the car tomorrow?

¿Puedo tomar prestado el coche mañana?
• May we come a bit later?
¿Podemos venir un poco más tarde?
• May I use your telephone please?
¿Puedo usar su teléfono por favor?
 MIGHT
 It is a term of greater courtesy
SUBJECT + MIGHT + PRINCIPAL VERB + COMPLEMENT

• They might visit the hospital this afternoon.     

Ellos podrían visitar el hospital esta tarde. 
• I might see you tomorrow.
Podría verte mañana.
• It looks nice, but it might be very expensive.
Se ve bien, pero podría ser muy caro.
 NEGATIVE
For negatives, use not. 

SUBJECT + MIGHT NOT + PRINCIPAL VERB + COMPLEMENT

• That might not be a bad idea, right? 

Eso podría no ser una mala idea, ¿verdad? 
• He might not find a solution to his problem. 
Él no podría encontrar una solución a su problema 
• There might not be anyone in the house 
Podría ser que no haya nadie en la casa. 
 INTERROGATIVE
Change the order of might and the person.
MIGHT + SUBJECT + PRINCIPAL VERB + COMPLEMENT + ?

• Might I ask your name? 

¿Podría preguntar tu nombre? 
• Might I see your credit card, please? 
¿Podría ver su tarjeta de crédito, por favor? 
• Might I remind you that this is a library? 
(an extremely formal and critical way of asking someone
to be quiet) 
¿Podría recordarte que esto es una biblioteca?
(una forma extremadamente formal y crítica de pedirle a
alguien que se calle) 
 MAY VS MIGHT
Both have the same use and meaning, although MAY indicates a higher
degree of certainty.
• She may forget the problems. 
Ella puede olvidar los problemas.
• She might forget the problems. 
Ella podría olvidar los problemas. 
• You may pay the bills.
Tú puedes pagar las cuentas. 
• You might pay the bills.
Tú podrías pagar las cuentas. 
 WILL
We can use will to make predictions
about the future.
SUBJECT + WILL + PRINCIPAL VERB + COMPLEMENT

I will be a teacher. 
Yo seré un maestro. 

He'll travel around the world. 

Viajará por todo el mundo. 

You won't have any problems. 

No tendrás ningún problema. 
 The future with "will" is used to talk
about decisions that are made while speaking.
• I need some cash. I will pay with • I need to get my medicine. I will go to
my debit card and ask for the pharmacy tonight. 
cashback. 

Necesito algo de efectivo. Pagaré con Necesito comprar mi medicina. Iré a la

mi tarjeta de débito y pediré efectivo farmacia esta noche. 
de vuelta. 
 It is also used to make general predictions.

Gerardo Gómez will win the I’m sure it will rain tomorrow. 

election. 

Gerardo Gómez va a ganar las Estoy seguro de

elecciones. que va a llover mañana.
 We can contract will, especially when we're speaking.

will= 'll

• I'll live in a big city when I'm older. 

Yo viviré en una gran ciudad cuando sea mayor.
• She'll have lots of pets. 
Ella tendrá muchas mascotas.
 NEGATIVE
For negatives, use not. We usually contract will and not to make won't.

SUBJECT + WILL NOT/WON'T + PRINCIPAL VERB + COMPLEMENT

• We will not drive normal cars. = We won't drive normal cars.

No conduciremos coches normales. 
• Children will not go to school in the future. = Children won't go to school
in the future.
Los niños no irán a la escuela en el futuro.
 INTERROGATIVE
Change the order of will and the person.
WILL + SUBJECT + PRINCIPAL VERB + COMPLEMENT + ?

• Will you get married?

¿Te casarías?
• Where will she live?
¿Dónde vivirá?
 FUTURE POSSIBILITY
3 forms of possibility
DEFINITE 100% sure
Affirmative form: will certainly / definitely happen
Negative form: certainly / definitely won't happen

PROBABLE 75% likely.
Affirmative form: will probably happen
Negative form: probably won't happen

POSSIBLE 50% possible.
Affirmative form: may / might / could happen
Negative form: may not / might not happen
 Will May Might Modals Exercise
1. ______ I go to your house tonight? 
a. Might 
b. May
2. _____ some cookies later. 
a. I’ll probably bake 
b. I’ll bake probably
3. They ______ to their friends’ advice. 
a. probably won’t listen 
b. won’t listen probably
4. I don’t know where your socks are. They _____ in the drawer.
a. might be 
b. may be
5. She ______ her baby. 
a. will certainly look after
b. certainly won’t look after
 Will May Might Modals Exercise
6. _____ I have your attention, please? 
a. May
b. Might
7. I ______ the meeting on Thursday. 
a. may attend 
b. might attend
8. You _____ without me. It’s okay. 
a. may start
b. will possibly start
9. Students ______ for free. 
a. might study
b. may study
10. The team _____ overtime today. 
a. will probably work 
b. may work
THANKS FOR
YOUR
ATTENTION