Modal Verbs of Possibility

B2 · Upper IntermediateModal Verbs

May, might, and could let you say something is possible, without being sure — whether that's now, in the future, or already in the past.

What you'll learn

  • May/might/could + base verb for present or future possibility
  • May/might/could + be + -ing for a possibility happening right now
  • May/might/could + have + past participle for possibility about the past
  • May can also mean permission — might and could in this use cannot

Saying something is possible

May, might, and could all express possibility — that something could be true or could happen, without certainty.

"It might rain later."
"She may be at home."

A possibility happening right now

To guess about something that might be happening at this very moment, use may/might/could + be + the -ing form.

"She might be sleeping right now."
"He might be working late."

Possibility about the past

To guess about something that might have happened in the past, use may/might/could + have + the past participle.

"They could have missed the bus."
"She may have forgotten."

Real English

"It could snow tonight."
"She might have left already."
"He might be working late."
"They may not have received the email."

Watch out

✗He could being stuck in traffic.
✓He could be stuck in traffic.

Use be, not being, right after the modal — the -ing goes on the following verb if there is one.

✗She might left already.
✓She might have left already.

For a possibility about the past, don't drop have — use might/may/could + have + past participle.

✗It don't might rain after all.
✓It might not rain after all.

Don't add do to a modal negative — just add not directly after the modal verb.

Real life — Wondering where someone is

"Have you heard from Sam? He's late."

"He might be stuck in traffic."

"Maybe. Or he could have forgotten about the meeting."

"True — let's give him a call and see."

Practice

Exercise 1 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — expressing possibility.

Exercise 2 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 3 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence.

Exercise 4 · Choose the correct negative

Choose the correct negative.

Exercise 5 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — a possibility happening right now.

Exercise 6 · Choose the correct answer

Which modal can also mean 'permission,' unlike might or could in this use?

Exercise 7 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — possibility about the past.

Exercise 8 · Choose the correct sentence

Choose the correct sentence — possibility about the past.

Exercise 9 · Complete the sentence

Complete: 'He ___ (might/be) busy — try calling later.'

Exercise 10 · Complete the sentence

Complete (past possibility): 'They ___ (could/have/left) already.'

Exercise 11 · Sort into groups

might rain
might have rained
could be
could have been
may arrive
may have arrived

0 / 6 sorted

Quick challenge

Five quick questions to check what stuck.

Question 1 / 5

Score: 0/0

Choose the correct sentence.

You learned

  • May, might, and could express possibility, not certainty.
  • May/might/could + be + -ing describes a possibility happening right now.
  • May/might/could + have + past participle describes possibility about the past.
  • May can also mean permission, unlike might or could used this way.

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