☁ The Sky Might Clear: Modals of Possibility with may, might, could

translate Key Vocabulary

auto_fix_high Grammar Points

• may + bare infinitive: neutral possibility, slightly more formal
• might + bare infinitive: possibility, very common in everyday speech
• could + bare infinitive: open possibility, also used for suggestions
• All three (may/might/could) are interchangeable for present and future possibility at B1 level
• must + bare infinitive for deduction: strong positive certainty based on evidence (95%)
• can't + bare infinitive for deduction: strong negative certainty, = impossible based on evidence
• may/might/could + have + past participle: past possibility (something that was possible but uncertain)
• must have + V3: past deduction (almost certain it happened); can't have + V3: past deduction (almost certain it didn't)
• Do NOT use 'can' for uncertain future possibility — use may/might/could instead
• Modals never take -s (she might, not she mights); no 'to' after modal (may come, not may to come)