□ Do you think I could/might borrow your umbrella?
□ I wonder if I could/might borrow your umbrella?
3. Permission/prohibition in other tenses than Present or Future.
May is not a "complete verb", so we use to be allowed/to be permitted to make up the missing parts:
□ The children were allowed to watch TV last night.
□ He has just been allowed to go home after 3 hours at the police station.
□ His doctor hadn't allowed him to take any exercises in the year before he died.
4. The negative answer to the question containing a request for permission:
| 1. No, don't, please I'm afraid not. | Don't is less strict than may not. It is rather asking somebody not to do something. |
| 2. No , you may not . ( нет , нельзя = не смей ) | Actually prohibiting something. |
| 3. No, you must not. ( запрещено , нельзя ) | Means that it is not the person who prohibits the action but there are facts, rules or circumstances prohibiting it. |
| 4. No, you can't. I'm sorry, you can't. | It denotes the absence of possibility depending on circumstances, rules, laws, etc. |
5. Might instead of may is used because of the Sequence of Tenses: □ May I read the letter? He asked if he might read the letter.
In its second meaning may/might is used to express uncertainty, supposition implying strong doubt. May denoting uncertainty is used with all forms of the infinitive.
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be there Не may/might (not) + [infjifc^ haveleft9 |
|
|
Present
Может быть , возможно
nave len i_ _.
have been---------------- 1 rasi
sleeping
There is no important difference between may and might in this meaning.
Sometimes "might" expresses greater uncertainty than "may": □ He may/might be in his office now. (I'm not sure.) Q I can't find my bag anywhere. - You might have left it in the shop. G He may not have noticed you in that crowd.
EXERCISES______________________________________________________________
Ex. 1. ( В , С ) Analyse the meaning of the verb may. Translate the sentences into Russian.
1.1 said to Mrs Micawber, "May I ask what you and Mr Micawber intend to do, now that Mr Micawber is out of his difficulties? Have you settled yet?" 2. He said I might come to him any day I liked. 3.1 asked if I might bring my wife down next Saturday. 4. If he walks from the station, he may arrive in the course of the next half-hour. If he drives, he may be here any moment. 5. "May I look around?" he asked. 6. It was some special occasion. I don't remember what. It may have been my birthday. 7. He may not have learned the news, that's why he looks as if nothing had happened. 8. Of course I am too young but I try hard, and one day I may achieve something.
Ex. 2. (A, B) Fill in the blanks with "can/could" or "may/might" (or the negative forms).
I
1.______ we leave the room? Is the lesson over? 2._______ you stand on your head? - I
_____ when I was at school but I_______ now. 3.______ I smoke here? - No, you_______ ,
smoking is not allowed. 4._____ you type? - Yes, I______ type but I______ do shorthand.
5._____ I come in? - Please, do. 6. Where________ I buy fruit? 7. He_______ answer the
teacher's questions yesterday, but he______ answer the same questions today. 8._____ I
come and see you this evening? - Of course you_______ . 9. When I first went to Spain I
_____ read Spanish but I______ speak it. 10. He said that we______ use his flat whenever
we liked. 11. There was a lot of noise in the street last night, and I______ sleep. 12.______
I borrow your umbrella? 13. The boys_____ wait for him, they have no time for that. 14. It's
very cold.______ I shut the windows?
II
1. I____________________ be away from home tomorrow.
2. He____________________ have been hurt.
3. It_____________________ or_____________________ not be true.
4. It was so dark, we_____________________ see nothing.
5. _____________________ you lend me a shilling?
6. _____________________ you hear what he is saying?
7. You____________________ walk miles in this district without seeing anybody.
8. _____________________ this be true?
9. _____________ we go to the pictures after we wash up? - Yes, you_______________ .
10. Mother says I_____________________ not go out.
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11. Sorry, sir, you_____________________ smoke here.
12. No, it_____________________ be so far as all that.
13._____________________ I have some more bread?
14. You____________________ ask him to be the chairman.
15. The letters_____________________ have been written in this very house.
Ex. 3. (A, B) Translate the sentences.
1. Вы, возможно, встретите его на станции.
2. Может быть, он оставил нам записку.
3. Вы, возможно, забыли свои перчатки дома.
4. Она, возможно, поймет это позже.
5. Может быть, дверь была не заперта.
6. Возможно, они не хотят видеть нас.
7. Она, может быть, напишет вам.
8. Она, возможно, все уже забыла.
Ex. 4. (В, С) Translate into English.
1. Можно мне здесь подождать? - Да, конечно.
2. Ты мог бы остаться дома хотя бы на один вечер.
3. Может быть, он уже ушел.
4. Может быть, он еще ждет.
5. Студенты могут получить эту книгу в библиотеке.
6. Иногда отсюда можно видеть море.
7. Могу я помочь вам?
8. Можно мне пользоваться словарем?
9. Нельзя пользоваться словарем во время контрольной работы.
10. Вы могли бы приходить вовремя. Вы всегда опаздываете.
11. Я не могу вспомнить его адрес. - Неужели ты даже улицу забыл?
12. Здесь нельзя купаться.
13. Давай позвоним Майку, нам может понадобиться его совет.
14. Они, может быть, приедут завтра.
4. MUST
FORMS AND MEANINGS
| MODAL VERB | r_ |
| PAST | FUTURE | |
| Eauivalent | rncscn ■ | ||||
| must | must | __ | — | ||
| have to... | have has | to,.. | had | to... | will have to. .. |
| be to... | am is are | to... | was were | to... | — |
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MUST" EXPRESSES:
| 1. obligation, necessity (= have to...) (должен) | Well, it's 10 o'clock, I must/have to go now. |
| 2. a command, an urgent request (побудительное предложение) | You must leave the room at once. Немедленно выйдите из комнаты. |
| 3. prohibition (нельзя, запрещается) | You mustn't speak to a prisoner in a foreign language. |
TO HAVE TO" EXPRESSES:
obligation or necessity arising out of circumstances (должен = приходится, вынужден)
I have to get up at 6 every day. My working day begins at 8.
Last night Den suddenly became ill. We had to call the doctor.
"TO BE TO" EXPRESSES:
| 1. an agreement or arrangement, part of apian (должен) | We were to meet at the entrance to the theatre at a quarter to nine. They are to go to Spain in July. |
| 2. a strict order/prohibition (побудительное предложение) | You are to go straight to your room. Сейчас же иди в свою комнату . You are not to get your feet wet. He смей мочить ноги. |
| 3. something thought as unavoidable (предстоит, суждено) | Sally wanted Morris to be friendly with her, but evidently it was not to be. He went about thinking of his life and what was to become of him. |
NOTES:
1. The absence of necessity is expressed by "needn't":
Yes, you must.
□ Must I go there tomorrow?
No , you needn ' t . (Нет, не нужно)
2. There is sometimes a difference between "must" and "have to". With "must" the speaker is
giving his own feelings, saying "he" thinks it necessary:
□ I must visit my friend. He is ill.
□ I must write to Ann. I haven't written to her for ages.
3. We can only use "must" to talk about the present and future; "have to" can be used in three
tense forms:
□ I had to go to hospital.
□ I am afraid I can't come tomorrow. I will have to work late.
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We use do/does/did with "have to" in present and past questions and negative sentences:
□ Did you have to walk all the way home?
□ No, I didn't have to walk, I took a tram.