May and Might 2
Future Possibility, Real vs Unreal & Might As Well — Complete Guide
May et Might 2
Possibilité future, Réel vs Irréel & Might As Well — Guide Complet
Master when to use may and might for future possibilities, the difference between real and unreal situations, the continuous form may/might be -ing, and the expression might as well
Maîtrisez l'utilisation de may et might pour les possibilités futures, la différence entre situations réelles et irréelles, la forme continue may/might be -ing, et l'expression might as well
In Unit 29 we looked at may and might for present deductions. In this unit we focus on may and might for possible future actions and happenings. We also look at when to choose might over may (unreal situations), the continuous form may/might be -ing, and the very useful expression might as well.
Dans l'unité 29, nous avons étudié may et might pour les déductions au présent. Dans cette unité, nous nous concentrons sur may et might pour les actions et événements futurs possibles. Nous verrons aussi quand choisir might plutôt que may (situations irréelles), la forme continue may/might be -ing, et l'expression très utile might as well.
May and Might for Future Possibility
May et Might pour la possibilité future
We use may and might to talk about possible actions or happenings in the future — things that perhaps will happen. Usually you can use either may or might — they are often interchangeable.
On utilise may et might pour parler d'actions ou d'événements futurs possibles — des choses qui peut-être se produiront. On peut généralement utiliser may ou might — ils sont souvent interchangeables.
I may go to Ireland. / It might rain later. / We might have to wait.
Negative: may not / might not (mightn't)
Amy may not go out tonight. / There might not be enough time.
May/Might — Possible (future)
May/Might — Possible (futur)
Going to / Will — Certain (future)
Going to / Will — Certain (futur)
May vs Might — Real vs Unreal Situations
May vs Might — Situations Réelles vs Irréelles
Usually may and might are interchangeable for future possibility. However, we use might (NOT may) when the situation is not real — typically in conditional sentences where the condition is hypothetical or contrary to fact.
En général, may et might sont interchangeables pour la possibilité future. Cependant, on utilise might (PAS may) quand la situation n'est pas réelle — typiquement dans les phrases conditionnelles où la condition est hypothétique ou contraire à la réalité.
I haven't decided yet. I might go to Ireland.
✓ Both correct — situation is real/possible.
✓ Les deux sont corrects — situation réelle/possible.
✗ If they paid me better, I may work harder.
The condition is NOT real — they don't pay well, so I'm not working harder.
✗ I may work harder — incorrect ici car c'est irréel.
May/Might Be -ing — Continuous Form
May/Might Be -ing — Forme Continue
We can use may/might be -ing to talk about something that is possibly happening at a certain time, or for possible plans. Compare this with will be -ing (certain) and going to (definite plan).
On peut utiliser may/might be -ing pour parler de quelque chose qui se passe peut-être à un moment donné, ou pour des plans possibles. Comparez avec will be -ing (certain) et going to (plan défini).
I might be watching the football on TV.
She may be going to Ireland soon.
Compare with certain forms:
I'll be watching the football. (certain) / I'm going to Ireland. (definite plan)
May/Might be -ing — Possible
May/Might be -ing — Possible
Will be -ing / Going to — Certain
Will be -ing / Going to — Certain
Might As Well — No Better Alternative
Might As Well — Pas de meilleure option
We use might as well (or may as well) to say that we should do something because there is no better alternative, or no reason not to do it. It expresses a kind of resigned or practical acceptance.
On utilise might as well (ou may as well) pour dire qu'on devrait faire quelque chose parce qu'il n'y a pas de meilleure option, ou pas de raison de ne pas le faire. Cela exprime une acceptation pratique ou résignée.
We might as well walk. (= there's no reason not to / no better option)
You might as well take a taxi. (= it's no worse than the bus)
I might as well go now. (= I'm ready, no reason to wait)
Exercise 1 — Might or Going To? Which makes sense?
Exercice 1 — Might ou Going To ? Lequel est logique ?
Choose the correct alternative based on the context clue.
Choisissez la bonne option selon le contexte.
Exercise 2 — Complete using might + a verb from the box
Exercice 2 — Complétez avec might + un verbe de l'encadré
Use the correct verb with might to complete each warning or caution.
Utilisez le bon verbe avec might pour compléter chaque mise en garde.
Exercise 3 — Might be able to or Might have to?
Exercice 3 — Might be able to ou Might have to ?
Complete each sentence using might be able to or might have to + a verb from the box.
Complétez chaque phrase avec might be able to ou might have to + un verbe de l'encadré.
Exercise 4 — Write sentences with might not
Exercice 4 — Écrivez des phrases avec might not
Rewrite each situation using might not.
Réécrivez chaque situation en utilisant might not.
Exercise 5 — Write sentences with might as well
Exercice 5 — Écrivez des phrases avec might as well
Read each situation and complete the sentence with might as well.
Lisez chaque situation et complétez la phrase avec might as well.
Frequently Asked Questions — May & Might
Questions fréquentes — May & Might
Use going to for a plan or decision that has already been made — it's certain or very likely. Use may/might when something is only possible or uncertain. Example: I'm going to buy a car (decided) vs I might buy a car (just possible).
Utilisez going to pour un plan ou une décision déjà prise — c'est certain ou très probable. Utilisez may/might quand quelque chose est seulement possible ou incertain.
For most future possibilities, may and might are interchangeable. The important exception is when the situation is not real or hypothetical — especially in conditional sentences with "if + past tense". In these cases, use might only: If they paid me better, I might work harder. ✗ I may work harder.
Pour la plupart des possibilités futures, may et might sont interchangeables. L'exception importante est quand la situation est irréelle ou hypothétique — surtout dans les conditionnelles avec "if + passé". Dans ce cas, utilisez might seulement.
Might as well means there is no better alternative, so you may as well do the thing. It suggests a practical or resigned decision. Example: if you've missed the bus and the next one is in an hour, you say We might as well walk — walking is no worse than waiting. You can also say may as well — both are correct.
Might as well signifie qu'il n'y a pas de meilleure alternative, donc autant faire la chose. Exemple : si vous avez raté le bus et le suivant est dans une heure, vous dites We might as well walk — marcher n'est pas pire qu'attendre. On peut aussi dire may as well — les deux sont corrects.
Will be -ing describes something you are certain will be happening at a point in the future. Might be -ing describes something that will possibly be happening. Example: Don't phone at 8.30 — I'll be watching the match (certain). Don't phone at 8.30 — I might be watching the match (uncertain/possible).
Will be -ing décrit quelque chose qui se passera certainement à un moment futur. Might be -ing décrit quelque chose qui se passera peut-être.
The negatives are may not and might not (contracted: mightn't). Note: mayn't is very rarely used. Remember: may not / might not = perhaps will not (uncertain). This is very different from won't = definitely will not (certain).
Les formes négatives sont may not et might not (contracté : mightn't). Note : mayn't est très rarement utilisé. Attention : may not / might not = peut-être ne … pas (incertain). Très différent de won't = ne … certainement pas (certain).
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