Expressing hypotheses: may, might, could, can

🔊 The teacher reads for you

Is genetically modified food dangerous? Nobody knows yet — and the market researcher interviewed on the radio chooses his words with care: « They may or they may not disappear. » « GMFs might have harmful effects just as they might not. » And when the journalist supposes that « the debate could continue », he agrees. How do may, might, could and can tell the listener how possible a hypothesis is?

🎓في نهاية هذا الدرس ستكون قادرا على:

التعبير عن الفرضيّة بالأفعال الناقصة ⁦may · might · could · can⁩
التمييز بين الاحتمال ⁦(may · can)⁩ والاحتمال الضعيف ⁦(might · could)⁩، وموقعهما من الترجيح واليقين
استعمال المصدر دون ⁦to⁩ بعد الفعل الناقص، وصيغة النفي ⁦may not · might not⁩
إعادة صياغة جملة لتعبّر عن درجة احتمال معيّنة، ولو كانت في المبني للمجهول

🔑يفترض هذا الدرس أنّك تتقن:

المستقبل بـ ⁦will⁩
المصدر دون ⁦to⁩ ⁦(bare infinitive)⁩
المبني للمجهول ⁦(will be banned)⁩

1. From certainty to remote possibility

⁦may · can⁩ للاحتمال، و ⁦might · could⁩ للاحتمال الضعيف؛ وفوقهما الترجيح ⁦(probably)⁩ واليقين ⁦(certainly)⁩.

When we are not sure, we make a hypothesis — and English grades it. May and can express a possibility; might and could express a remote possibility: the thing is possible, but less likely. Above them come probability (probably, it is probable that) and categorical certainty (certainly). The modal is followed by the infinitive without to: may disappear, might have, could continue, can have. Its negative adds not: they may not disappear, they might not.

An interview on organic food and GMFs — a journalist and a market researcher

Journalist: I imagine they will certainly disappear partly because of the bad publicity given to them in recent years. Market researcher: Well, they may or they may not disappear. That depends on the conclusions of the debate engaged about them. […] Market researcher: Hold on a minute, the Prime Minister said « might »… So GMFs might have harmful effects on human health and the environment just as they might not. There is no strong evidence on either side of the question. Journalist: So I suppose the debate could continue for some time yet.

The four degrees of certainty

Degree	Positive statement	Negative statement
4 — categorical certainty	will certainly	it is impossible that …
3 — probability	it is probable that … · subject + probably + verb	it is unlikely that … · it is improbable that …
2 — possibility	may · can · it is possible that …	may not
1 — remote possibility	might · could	might not

The higher the number, the higher the degree of certainty.

Task 1 — Explain what notion each modal expresses, then place sentences A-E on the scale. A. They may or they may not disappear. · B. GMFs will certainly disappear. · C. They might have harmful effects just as they might not. · D. The debate could continue. · E. They can have a comeback.

ما الدرجة التي يعبّر عنها كلّ فعل ناقص؟ ضع الجمل الخمس على السلّم.

A. may, may not — possibility (2), positive and negative.
B. will certainly — categorical certainty (4).
C. might, might not — remote possibility (1), positive and negative.
D. could — remote possibility (1).
E. can — possibility (2).

B is the only certainty — and it is the journalist's sentence, the one the market researcher corrects. The modals of A and C are his careful answer; D is the journalist's own supposition, which he accepts.

2. Change the degree of a hypothesis

أعد صياغة الجملة لتعبّر عن الدرجة المطلوبة : ⁦may · can⁩ للاحتمال، و ⁦might · could⁩ للاحتمال الضعيف.

Task 2 — Rewrite the sentences below to express the notion given in brackets. Use appropriate modals. There are many possibilities.

A. (remote possibility) In the near future, advertisements for fast foods will be banned, and health warnings will be written on the packages of processed food. B. (possibility) The Algerian government will impose an eco-tax on polluting industries next year. C. (possibility) Flavourings and colourings cause irritability and skin irritations.

Task 2 — possible answers

إجابات ممكنة : المهمّ أن يوافق الفعلُ الناقص الدرجةَ المطلوبة.

A. In the near future, advertisements for fast foods might be banned, and health warnings could be written on the packages of processed food. — a remote possibility; with a passive, modal + be + past participle.
B. The Algerian government may impose an eco-tax on polluting industries next year. — a possibility.
C. Flavourings and colourings can cause irritability and skin irritations. — a possibility: they do not always cause them.

Other answers are right as long as the modal matches the notion — may or can for a possibility, might or could for a remote possibility — and will disappears: a modal never follows will.

Do this alone, in writing. Make five hypotheses about the food people will eat in 2050: one with may, one with can, one with might, one with could, and one in the negative. Then check each verb: is the modal followed by the infinitive without to?

اكتب وحدك خمس فرضيّات عن غذاء الناس سنة 2050، بالأفعال الناقصة الأربعة، وواحدة منفيّة.

A model answer

In 2050, people may eat much less meat. Farmers can grow vegetables without soil. Most families might buy all their food online. Some of our food could come from laboratories. Fast food might not disappear, though.

In the exam, hypotheses are tested in the text exploration: you rewrite a sentence to express a given notion — possibility, remote possibility — or you say what a modal of the text expresses. Have three things ready: ① may and can for a possibility, might and could for a remote possibility; ② the infinitive without to after them: may impose, never ✗ « may to impose » or ✗ « may imposes »; ③ with a passive, modal + be + past participle: might be banned. The frequent mistake: keeping will next to the modal — ✗ « will may impose » → ✓ « may impose ».

What I keep — To make a hypothesis, I choose the modal that says how possible it is: may and can for a possibility, might and could for a remote possibility — below probability (probably) and categorical certainty (certainly). The modal is followed by the infinitive without to; its negative is may not, might not; and with a passive it becomes might be banned.

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