In this week’s section on English modal verbs we arrive at siblings ‘may’ and ‘might’. There’s the younger sis(ter) ‘may’ (like the English woman’s first name) and the older bro(ther) ‘might’, which both talk about ‘possibility’ in the present and future.
Present: “I haven’t seen him around before, he may/might be the new teacher.” or Future: “I’ve got an important meeting at work in the afternoon so I may/might be home late this evening.”
So where’s the difference, if any? Older bro ‘might’ is LESS certain in meaning than younger sis ‘may’. You could even go as far as to represent them in percentages – ‘may’ represents 60% and ‘might’ only 50%.
In the same way, “They may/might have been held up in the traffic.” Talk about a possible explanation for something in the PAST with younger sis ‘may’ is MORE certain than older bro ‘might’.
Last but not least, they are both used in questions to ask for permission, with both sounding formal and older bro ‘might’ even more formal (and less common) than younger sis ‘may’.
Here’s that aide-memoire again: Younger sis ‘may’ (60%) is MORE certain than older bro ‘might’ (50%) !
siblings (Geschwister), certain (sicher), to represent (darstellen), to be held up (aufgehalten werden), last but not least (zu gutter Letzt), permission (Erlaubnis), common (geläufig), aide-memoire (Eselsbrücke).
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Perfect time for a little Corona exercise to show what we‘ve learned this week:
We all have to voluntarily stay at home, otherwise we mustn‘t leave our houses anymore due to an imposed curfew.
We all have to avoid social interaction and have to reduce personal contact to a minimum.
While being at home, I should clean my windows and eventually, I must send an email to my friend Eva. I might even clean out my wardrobe.
Stay healthy! 🙂
In the meantime I must write next week’s blogs! BTW, I was thinking of extending the Grow Your Grammar (as long as it takes). How do you see that, Jenny? (And anyone else who reads this comment)
Good idea, Dave. I‘d appreciate that! I‘ve already learned so much and however, there‘s still some untapped potential left. 🙂
Okay, I’ll give it my best shot