🎯 Objective
To help learners master the usage of modals and adverbs of possibility (may, might, possibly, perhaps, probably) to express different degrees of uncertainty and likelihood in both present and future situations.
📖 Grammar Focus
Modals and adverbs of possibility allow us to express uncertainty, speculation, and different degrees of likelihood. They help us communicate when we're not completely sure about something.
| Word | Type | Certainty Level | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| May | Modal verb | 50% (medium possibility) | It may rain tomorrow. |
| Might | Modal verb | 30-40% (lower possibility) | She might be late today. |
| Possibly | Adverb | 40-50% (medium possibility) | He could possibly help us. |
| Perhaps | Adverb | 50% (uncertain) | Perhaps we should wait. |
| Probably | Adverb | 70-80% (high possibility) | It will probably be sunny. |
📚 Step-by-Step Guide: Mastering Possibility Modals
Understanding Possibility Modals
What are Possibility Modals? They are words that express the speaker's degree of certainty about whether something is true or will happen. They range from very uncertain to quite likely.
Key Purpose: To show that we're not 100% certain, making our communication more polite, tentative, or realistic.
Modal Verbs: MAY and MIGHT
1. 🌦️ MAY (50% possibility)
Structure: Subject + may + base verb
Usage: Medium possibility, more formal
Examples:
- It may rain this afternoon. (weather prediction)
- She may come to the party. (uncertain attendance)
- We may need more time. (possible requirement)
Negative: may not (cannot contract to "mayn't")
2. 🤷 MIGHT (30-40% possibility)
Structure: Subject + might + base verb
Usage: Lower possibility, more tentative
Examples:
- I might go to the cinema tonight. (not very sure)
- He might be sick. (speculation)
- They might not understand. (possible problem)
Negative: might not / mightn't (rare contraction)
3. 🔄 MAY vs MIGHT Differences
Certainty level: May = slightly more certain than might
Formality: May = more formal, Might = more casual
Context:
- May: The weather may improve tomorrow. (formal weather report)
- Might: The weather might get better. (casual conversation)
Past reference: Only "might" can refer to past possibilities in reported speech
4. ❓ Questions with MAY/MIGHT
Direct questions rare: "May it rain?" sounds unnatural
Better alternatives:
- Do you think it may/might rain?
- Is it possible that she may/might come?
- Could it be that he might be late?
Permission (may only): May I help you? (formal)
Adverbs of Possibility
1. 🎲 POSSIBLY (40-50% possibility)
Position: Before main verb, after auxiliary, or at end
Usage: Medium uncertainty, often with "could"
Examples:
- He could possibly arrive early. (with modal)
- She possibly knows the answer. (before main verb)
- Are you coming to the party? Possibly. (short answer)
Common with questions: Could you possibly help me?
2. 🤔 PERHAPS (50% uncertainty)
Position: Usually at the beginning of sentences
Usage: Polite suggestions, uncertain opinions
Examples:
- Perhaps we should leave now. (polite suggestion)
- Perhaps you're right. (diplomatic agreement)
- Perhaps it would be better to wait. (tentative advice)
Tone: More formal and polite than "maybe"
3. 📈 PROBABLY (70-80% high possibility)
Position: Before main verb, after auxiliary
Usage: Strong likelihood, confident prediction
Examples:
- It will probably rain tomorrow. (weather forecast)
- She's probably at home by now. (logical assumption)
- We'll probably finish the project on time. (confident estimate)
Negative: probably not (It probably won't rain)
4. 📍 Position Rules for Adverbs
With BE: She is probably tired. (after "be")
With auxiliary: He has probably left. (after auxiliary)
With main verb: They probably know. (before main verb)
Beginning: Perhaps we should go. (sentence initial)
End: Are you coming? Possibly. (short answers)
Degrees of Possibility Scale
Certainty Scale (0% to 100%):
- 0%: impossible, can't, won't
- 30%: might, could
- 50%: may, perhaps, possibly
- 70%: probably, likely
- 90%: almost certainly, definitely
- 100%: certainly, will, must
Context Examples by Certainty:
Weather Prediction:
- It might rain. (30% - just a few clouds)
- It may rain. (50% - some dark clouds)
- It will probably rain. (70% - many dark clouds)
- It will definitely rain. (90% - storm clouds approaching)
Common Uses and Contexts
✅ Use Possibility Modals For:
- Weather predictions: It might snow tonight
- Future plans: I may visit my parents this weekend
- Speculation: She might be stuck in traffic
- Polite suggestions: Perhaps we could try a different approach
- Uncertain opinions: This may be the best solution
- Probability estimates: The project will probably finish on time
❌ Common Mistakes to Avoid:
- Wrong verb form: He may comes ✗ → He may come ✓
- Double modals: He might can help ✗ → He might be able to help ✓
- Wrong position: Probably he is tired ✗ → He is probably tired ✓
- Overuse in questions: May you help? ✗ → Could you possibly help? ✓
- Wrong contraction: He mayn't come ✗ → He may not come ✓
Combining Possibility Words
Natural Combinations:
- Quite possibly: He could quite possibly be the winner.
- Very probably: She will very probably accept the offer.
- Perhaps possibly: Perhaps we could possibly meet tomorrow.
- Maybe perhaps: Maybe we should perhaps reconsider.
Formal vs Informal Usage:
| Formal | Informal |
|---|---|
| It may be necessary to postpone | We might have to put it off |
| Perhaps we should consider | Maybe we should think about |
| It will probably be concluded | It'll probably be finished |
🧩 Task: Choose the Right Possibility Expression
Complete the sentences with the most appropriate possibility word based on the context and certainty level indicated.
📝 Choose the best possibility expression for each context:
1. Weather forecast shows 70% chance of rain: "It _____ rain tomorrow." (high probability)
2. Making a polite suggestion to your boss: "_____ we could schedule the meeting for next week." (diplomatic)
3. You're not sure if your friend is home: "She _____ be at home, but I'm not certain." (medium uncertainty)
4. Asking someone politely for help: "Could you _____ help me with this project?" (polite request)
5. Speculating about why someone is late with low certainty: "He _____ be stuck in traffic, but there could be other reasons." (low possibility)
1. ✅ Complete with high probability expression (70% chance):
2. ✅ Complete with diplomatic/polite suggestion:
3. ✅ Complete with medium uncertainty (50% possibility):
4. ✅ Complete the polite request:
5. ✅ Complete with low possibility (30-40%):
✅ Answer Key & Explanation
1. ✅ High Probability (70%):
Answer: "It will probably rain tomorrow."
Explanation: "Probably" is the best choice for 70% certainty. It expresses high likelihood based on weather forecast data.
Alternative: "It's likely to rain tomorrow" would also be correct.
Why not others: "May" and "might" suggest lower certainty (30-50%)
2. ✅ Diplomatic Suggestion:
Answer: "Perhaps we could schedule the meeting for next week."
Explanation: "Perhaps" is the most polite and diplomatic way to make suggestions, especially to superiors.
Tone: Formal, respectful, non-imposing
Alternative: "Maybe" would be less formal but still acceptable
3. ✅ Medium Uncertainty (50%):
Answer: "She may be at home, but I'm not certain."
Explanation: "May" expresses about 50% possibility - you think it's equally likely she's home or not.
Alternative: "might" would be acceptable but suggests slightly lower certainty
Context: Perfect for situations where you really don't know
4. ✅ Polite Request:
Answer: "Could you possibly help me with this project?"
Explanation: "Possibly" makes requests more polite and less demanding by suggesting the person has a choice.
Function: Softens the request, shows you understand they might be busy
Alternative: "perhaps" could work but is less common in this pattern
5. ✅ Low Possibility (30-40%):
Answer: "He might be stuck in traffic, but there could be other reasons."
Explanation: "Might" expresses lower certainty (30-40%) and fits with the clause "but there could be other reasons."
Context: Perfect for speculation when you're not very confident about your guess
Tone: Tentative, acknowledging uncertainty
🏆 Advanced Usage and Real-Life Contexts
Business and Professional Contexts:
Meetings and Presentations:
- The project may require additional funding. (formal possibility)
- We might need to extend the deadline. (tentative suggestion)
- The results will probably be available next week. (confident prediction)
- Perhaps we should consider alternative solutions. (diplomatic suggestion)
- Could we possibly schedule a follow-up meeting? (polite request)
Email Communication:
- I may be a few minutes late to the conference call.
- The report will probably be ready by Friday afternoon.
- Perhaps we could discuss this further in our next meeting.
- Could you possibly send me the updated figures?
Daily Conversations and Social Situations:
Making Plans with Friends:
- I might go to the movies tonight. Want to join? (uncertain plan)
- The party will probably end around midnight. (likely timing)
- Perhaps we should book a table in advance. (suggestion)
- She may bring her boyfriend to the dinner. (possible attendance)
Family Discussions:
- Dad might be working late again tonight. (speculation)
- We'll probably visit grandma this weekend. (likely plan)
- Perhaps we should order pizza instead of cooking. (suggestion)
- The kids may want to stay up late since it's Friday. (possibility)
Academic and Educational Settings:
Classroom Discussions:
- The answer might be found in chapter 5. (uncertain guidance)
- The exam will probably cover units 1-4. (likely content)
- Perhaps you could explain that concept again? (polite request)
- Students may use calculators for this section. (permission/possibility)
Research and Analysis:
- The results may indicate a correlation between the variables.
- This theory might explain the observed phenomena.
- The data will probably support our hypothesis.
- Perhaps further research is needed to confirm these findings.
Travel and Transportation:
Making Travel Plans:
- The flight might be delayed due to weather conditions. (concern)
- We'll probably arrive at the hotel around 6 PM. (estimated time)
- Perhaps we should book a rental car in advance. (suggestion)
- The train may be crowded during rush hour. (warning)
Giving Directions:
- You might get lost if you don't use GPS. (warning)
- The route will probably take about 30 minutes. (time estimate)
- Perhaps you should take the highway instead. (alternative suggestion)
- Traffic may be heavy at this time of day. (possibility)
Health and Medical Contexts:
Discussing Symptoms:
- It might be just a common cold. (tentative diagnosis)
- You'll probably feel better after a good night's rest. (likely outcome)
- Perhaps you should see a doctor if it doesn't improve. (advice)
- The medication may cause some side effects. (warning)
Weather and Environment:
Weather Predictions (by certainty level):
- 30%: It might rain later - there are a few clouds.
- 50%: It may rain this afternoon - the sky is getting darker.
- 70%: It will probably rain soon - I can see storm clouds approaching.
- 90%: It's definitely going to rain - I can feel drops already!
Quick Reference: When to Use Each Word
| Word | Best Context | Example Situation |
|---|---|---|
| May | Formal possibilities, permissions | Business presentations, official statements |
| Might | Tentative suggestions, low certainty | Casual speculation, uncertain plans |
| Possibly | Polite requests, uncertain answers | "Could you possibly...?" questions |