VOA慢速英语2016--May, Might, Must - Modals of Certainty

May, Might, Must - Modals of Certainty¹

For VOA Learning² English, this is Everyday Grammar.

This week's Everyday Grammar looks at how to use the modals may, must and might.

Modal verbs (called modals for short) are auxiliary³ verbs that express a speaker’s attitude and the strength of that attitude. There are about 17 modals in English. They have multiple⁴ meanings and sometimes overlap⁵ in ways that are confusing to English learners.

Today we will look at how we use these modals to express how certain, or sure, you are of something.

Degrees of certainty in the present and past

Grammar expert Betty Azar explains that these modals tell us how sure speakers are about what they are saying.

A person who is 100 percent sure uses the verb be, as in, "I am sick."

If they are mostly sure, say 95 percent, they will use the modal must, as in, "I must be sick."

When speakers are about 50 percent sure, they will use the modals may, might, or could; as in "I may be sick. I might be sick. I could be sick."

Might as the past tense of may

Might is used as the past form of may. For example:

"I may take more pictures." (This is a direct quote)

She said she might take more pictures. (This is reported speech)

Notice how may changed to might. Modals change to a past form in reported speech.

Yesterday we had a staff meeting. I looked around the room and noticed my co-worker Anna was not there. I asked, "Where's Anna?" and got three answers from my co-workers.

Jonathan answered, "Oh, she may be making a video in the studio."

Kelly said, "She might have stayed home today."

Adam told us, "She called me to say she was doing an interview at the Capitol this morning. So she must still be working over there."

In this conversation, you can see a change from may to might. May shows the speaker is not sure in the present moment: "She may be making a video." May changes to might to express a possible state in the past: "She might have stayed home." Finally, must expresses a strong certainty: "She must be working there."

People today do not always follow these rules about present and past tense for may and might. You will hear both words to express the same degree of certainty. English speakers still express strong certainty in phrases like, "It must be love."

Listen for the word might in this song by The Cars.

You might think it's foolish

Or maybe it's untrue

You might think I'm crazy

But all I want is you

By using might, the singer is expressing about 50 percent certainty.

Degrees of uncertainty⁶ in the future

Now let's look at how we express certainty about the future.

My friend Andy has a test next week. He has studied very hard for months. I told him, "You will do well on the test. Don't worry." I believe with 100 percent certainty that Andy will pass the test.

On the other hand, Carrie, who has to take the same test, just began studying last week. I warned her, "You might not do well on the test. You should study more this weekend." I am not so sure that Carrie will pass. In fact, I doubt it. I express that future possibility with might.

May is sometimes used to express hope

The idea of possible future events lets English speakers use may to talk about hopes. You will see may on greeting cards and in prayers or religious writings.

A quick look at Google Ngrams shows that few people are using may in this way. Now, it is much more common to hear "I hope that."

The group Celtic Woman sings of their wishes in "May it Be:"

May it be an evening star,

Shines down upon you.

May it be when darkness falls,

Your heart will be true.

Traditional poems and prayers also use may to express positive sentiments⁷. This is part of an old Irish blessing⁸:

May the road rise up to meet you.

May the wind always be at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face.

With that in mind, the Everyday Grammar team says, "May you find our articles useful."

Words in This Story

certain - adj. not having any doubt about something; convinced⁹ or sure

positive - adj. thinking that a good result will happen: hopeful or optimistic

modal verb - a verb (such as can, could, shall, should, ought to, will, or would) that is usually used with another verb to express ideas such as possibility, necessity¹⁰, and permission

auxiliary verb - a verb (such as have, be, may, do, shall, will, can, or must) that is used with another verb to show the verb's tense, to form a question, etc.

1 certainty   

n.必然的事，确定的事实，确信，确实

参考例句：

• I can't say with any certainty where I shall be next week.我不能确切地说下周我在什么地方。
• I know for a certainty that the company has been bought up.我确实知道公司已经被人收购了。

2 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

3 auxiliary   

adj.辅助的，备用的

参考例句：

• I work in an auxiliary unit.我在一家附属单位工作。
• The hospital has an auxiliary power system in case of blackout.这家医院装有备用发电系统以防灯火管制。

4 multiple   

adj.多个(或多项、多种)的；n.（数）倍数

参考例句：

• The number 8 is a multiple of 4.八是四的倍数。
• The most common multiple births are twins,two babies born at the same time.最常见的多胎是双胞胎，两个婴儿同时出生。

5 overlap   

v.重叠，与…交叠；n.重叠

参考例句：

• The overlap between the jacket and the trousers is not good.夹克和裤子重叠的部分不好看。
• Tiles overlap each other.屋瓦相互叠盖。

6 uncertainty   

n.易变，靠不住，不确知，不确定的事物

参考例句：

• Her comments will add to the uncertainty of the situation.她的批评将会使局势更加不稳定。
• After six weeks of uncertainty,the strain was beginning to take its toll.6个星期的忐忑不安后，压力开始产生影响了。

7 sentiments   

（基于情感的）观点( sentiment的名词复数 )； （对怜悯、怀旧等的）柔情； （失之过度或不恰当的）伤感； 态度或意见

参考例句：

• the spread of nationalist sentiments 民族主义情绪的传播
• He expressed his sentiments about the war with great eloquence. 他雄辩地表达了他对那场战争的看法。

8 blessing   

n.祈神赐福；祷告；祝福，祝愿

参考例句：

• The blessing was said in Hebrew.祷告用了希伯来语。
• A double blessing has descended upon the house.双喜临门。

9 convinced   

adj.确信的；深信的；有坚定信仰的v.使确信(convince的过去分词)；说服

参考例句：

• I am convinced of her innocence. 我坚信她是清白无辜的。
• I'm convinced there's a jinx on this car. 我看这辆汽车是灾星。

10 necessity   

n.必要性，需要；必需品

参考例句：

• I look upon this as an absolute necessity.我认为这是绝对必要的。
• You must understand the necessity of education.你必须懂得教育的必要性。