Brief overview of the Modal Verbs-May /Might / Must
The modal verbs are used to say how sure we are about something. Here we are going to discuss the Modal Verbs- May / Might / Must
-We use ‘must’ when we feel sure that something is true because there’s very strong evidence.
e.g.:
You must be freezing in this weather, have a cup of coffee
-We use ‘might’ and ‘may’ to say that we think something is possible but we’re not sure.
e.g.:
We may arrive late if there’s a lot of traffic
I think there might be rain today.
All grammar rules for Modal Verbs- May /Might / Must
-The modal verbs May /might/ must are used differently in active and passive voices
e.g.: May
Active: She may eat a banana
Passive: A banana may be eaten by her
e.g.: Might
Active: He might harm the animal
Passive: The animal must be harmed by him
e.g.: Must
Active: He must learn the lesson
Passive: The lesson must be learned by him
Sentence patterns for Modal Verbs- May /Might / Must
Positive Sentences
Subject + Auxiliary (May /Might / Must) + main verb
e.g.: I may/might/ must like the book
Negative Sentences
Subject + Auxiliary (May /Might / Must) + Not + main verb
e.g.: She may/might/ must not go today
Interrogative Sentences
Auxiliary (May /Might / Must) + Subject +Main verb
e.g.: May /Might he learn the lesson?
Use of ‘May’
1. It is used to ask for formal permission
e.g.:
May I come in, please?
May I say something now?
2. It is used to suggest something that is possible
e.g.:
She may not be happy about the results
It may rain today
Use of ‘Might’ (past form of ‘May’)
It is used to suggest a smaller possibility than may does
e.g.:
He might not come to the class today
She might have lost the game
Uses of ‘Must’
1. It is used to express something formally required or necessary
e.g.:
Every building must have a fire alarm.
You must answer all the questions
2. It is used to show that something is very likely
e.g.:
There is lot of traffic, there must be an accident
He must be a genius.
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