There are 9 parts of speech or word classes in English language:
– nouns
– pronouns
– determiners
– verbs
– prepositions
– adjectives
– adverbs
– conjunctions
– interjections

There are 2 types of verbs:

– main verbs
(have their own meaning, can stand on their own)
Examples: walk, work, study, play, sing, etc.
I walk to school every day.

– auxiliary verbs (helping verbs)
(cannot stand on their own, needed to complete a sentence)
Examples: is,am,are,do,does,did,have,has,had
I am walking to school now.

Modal verbs:
– are part of auxiliary verbs
– cannot stand on their own, must be used with main verbs

10 modal verbs:
– can
– could
– will
– would
– shall
– should
– may
– might
– must
– ought to

1. Weak possibilities (something that is slightly possible to happen)
– I may see you tomorrow before I leave.
– I may go to the doctor today.
– She may take the job offer.

2. Polite requests/permission/refusal to do something
– May I use your phone?
Yes, you may use the phone.
No, you may not use the phone.

3. Accepting a different view/opinion
– I may be wrong but I’m going to tell the police about this.
– This chair may cost more but the comfort will be worth it.

(+) Subject + may + base form
He may come.

(-) Subject + may not + base form
He may not come.

(?) May + Subject + base form
May I leave?
– Yes, you may.
– No, you may not

(?) QW + May + Subject + base form
Who may we invite?

‘May’ can only be used with base forms.
He may come.
He may to come. (wrong)
He may came. (wrong)
He may comes. (wrong)
He may coming. (wrong)

‘May not’ is written as two words, not as one word.
He may not come.
He maynot come. (wrong)

Non-action sentences:
– descriptions
You may be a pilot one day.
– conditions
You may be late.
– locations
We may be there tomorrow.

Sentence Patterns (Non-Action)

(+) Subject + may + be + Noun / Adjective / Adverb of Place
You may be a pilot one day.

(-) Subject + may not + be + Noun / Adjective / Adverb of Place
He may not be there tomorrow.

(?) May + Subject + be + Noun / Adjective / Adverb of Place
May we be there tomorrow?

1. Past requests/permissions
(Present) John: May I borrow your car?
(Past) John asked if he might borrow my car.

2. Weak possibilities
– I might go to Bali for the holiday.
– They might not like the food.
– Don’t touch it. It might be dangerous.

3. Polite suggestions
– You might like to try this.
– You might want to read this.
– You might try the Internet.

4. Polite permissions
– Might I ask your name?
– Might I interrupt you for a moment?
– Might I borrow your pen?

(+) Subject + might + base form
He might come.

(-) Subject + might not + base form
(-) Subject + mightn’t + base form
He might not come.
He mightn’t come.

(?) Might + Subject + base form
Might I open the window?
– Yes, you might.
– No, you mightn’t

(?) QW + Might + Subject + base form
Where might he go?

‘Might’ can only be used with base forms.
He might come.
He might to come. (wrong)
He might came. (wrong)
He might comes. (wrong)
We might coming. (wrong)

‘Might not’ is written separately, not as one word.
He might not come.
He mightnot come. (wrong)

(+) Subject + might+ be + Noun / Adjective / Adverb of Place
I might be there.

(-) Subject + might not + be + Noun / Adjective / Adverb of Place
(-) Subject + mightn’t + be + Noun / Adjective / Adverb of Place
He might not be serious.
He mightn’t be serious.

(?) Might + Subject + be + Noun / Adjective / Adverb of Place
Might he be the speaker?