第 58 課 · 第 4 階段: 時態與情態動詞
用 “might / may” 表可能
中級Possibility with “might / may”
構成與用法
might/may + 動詞 — 有可能但不確定的事
1.形式
might / may + 動詞原形——所有主語都一樣，不加 -s，不加 to。否定式：might not / may not（may not 幾乎從不縮寫；mightn't 在英式英語中有，但不常見）。
| 現在 / 將來 | 正在進行 | 過去 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 肯定式 | She might be at home. | She might be sleeping. | She might have left. |
| 否定式 | She may not be at home. | She may not be listening. | She might not have seen it. |
- 正在進行：might / may be + -ing。
- 過去：might / may have + V3——見“情態動詞 + have + V3”一課。
- 詢問可能性：通常用 Do you think…? 或 Could…?：Do you think it'll rain? Could she be at home? 這類問句不用 may。
不要把 may be（兩個詞，是動詞：She may be late）和 maybe（一個詞，意思是“也許”，通常放在句首：Maybe she'll be late）搞混。不能說 “She maybe late”。
2.什麼時候用
1. 某事現在可能是真的——是猜測，不是肯定
Lan isn't answering. She might be in a meeting.
阿蘭不接電話，她可能在開會。
This may be the wrong address — let me check.
這個地址可能不對——我查一下。
2. 某事將來可能發生
Take a jacket. It might get cold tonight.
帶件外套吧，今晚可能會冷。
We might go to Da Lat next month — we haven't decided yet.
我們下個月可能去大叻——還沒定。
I may not have time to cook, so let's order food.
我可能沒時間做飯，我們叫外賣吧。
3. 某事現在可能正在進行：might / may be + -ing
Don't call now — the baby might be sleeping.
現在別打電話——寶寶可能正在睡覺。
I'm not sure where Tuan is. He may be playing football.
我不確定阿俊在哪兒，他可能在踢足球。
4. 某事可能已經發生了：might / may have + V3
I can't find my keys. I might have left them at work.
我找不到鑰匙了，可能落在公司了。
She may not have seen your message.
她可能還沒看到你的訊息。
3.May、might 還是 could？
表示可能性時，may、might 和 could 在肯定句中意思差不多。May 更正式，常見於書面語和通知；might 在口語中最常用；有人覺得 might 比 may 稍微沒那麼肯定。
It could rain later, so take an umbrella.
待會兒可能會下雨，帶把傘吧。
The flight may be delayed because of the storm.
受暴風雨影響，航班可能會延誤。（通知的語氣）
- might well / may well / could well = 很有可能：Prices might well go up again next year。
- 不要把兩個情態動詞連用：用 might be able to，不說 “might can”：I might be able to help you tomorrow。
- May I…? 是請求許可，不是表示可能——見“請求、提議和許可”一課。
4.Might not 還是 can't？
在肯定句中 could ≈ might，但在否定句中兩者差別很大。might not / may not = 可能不（還不確定）。can't / couldn't = 絕對不可能——見“推斷：must / can't”一課。
| 句子 | 意思 |
|---|---|
| It might / may / could be true. | 可能是真的。 |
| It might not / may not be true. | 可能不是真的。 |
| It can't / couldn't be true. | 我確定不是真的。 |
Hoa might not be at home. She sometimes works late.
阿花可能不在家，她有時候加班到很晚。
Hoa can't be at home. I've just seen her at the gym.
阿花不可能在家，我剛在健身房看見她。
注意意思的順序：“可能不”= might not（不確定），而“不可能”= can't（確定）。中文這兩個詞只是字序不同，很容易弄混。只想說“也許不”時，不要用 can't。
5.常見錯誤
She maybe come to the party.She may come to the party. / Maybe she'll come to the party.
Maybe 是副詞，不能代替動詞。
It might rains later.It might rain later.
might 後面用動詞原形——不加 -s。
We might to visit Hue.We might visit Hue.
might / may 後面不加 to。
I might can help you.I might be able to help you.
兩個情態動詞不能連用。
The shop might closed today.The shop might be closed today.
Closed 是形容詞，所以需要 be。
Lan might be study now.Lan might be studying now.
表示正在進行：might be + -ing。
例句
- Take an umbrella. It might rain later.
- We might not have time to visit the museum.
- Ask Hoa. She might know the answer.
- Take your passport with you. They may ask for ID at the hotel.
