M o d e l I: He может быть, чтобы он не пришел в условленное время.
Не can't have failed to come at the appointed time.
1. He может быть, чтобы она не заметила, что он был расстроен. 2. Не может быть, чтобы он не проверил аппарат перед включением. 3. Не может быть, чтобы она не поняла, какую цель мы преследовали. 4. Не может быть, чтобы он не предусмотрел эту трудность. 5. Не может быть, чтобы они не убедили его. 6. Не может быть, чтобы она не изменила своего мнения после нашего разговора.
M o d e l II: Неужели телеграмма не дошла до них?
Can the telegram have failed to reach them?
1. Неужели он не смог доказать свою точку зрения? 2. Неужели она не поняла его шутку? 3. Неужели он не проверил багаж прежде чем отправить его на станцию? 4. Неужели она так и не увидела разницы между оригиналом и копией?
Ex. 4. Express strong doubt about these negative statements.
Model: He didn’t notice you.
Can he have failed to notice you? - Неужели он не заметил? He can’t have failed to notice you. - Он не мог не заметить... He doesn’t like it here. Can he dislike it here? He can’t dislike it here.
1. You didn’t understand me. 2. She didn’t like the play. 3. They don’t trust him. 4. They didn’t notice the mistake. 5. They didn’t receive the telegram in time. 6. They didn’t realize the importance of the event. 7. She didn’t see you. 8. He doesn’t see in the distance.
Ex. 5. Express your doubt or disbelief. Use the sentences as a dialogue.
Model: - He phoned me yesterday.
a) - Can he have phoned you yesterday? b) - He can’t have phoned you yesterday.
1. He brought me his essay that afternoon. 2. I have already heard this story repeated twice. 3. He is studying in the library now. 4. She will have translated this article by tomorrow. 5. It is still raining. 6. It has been raining since morning. 7. He injured his knee badly during the match. 8. He knows about it only too well. 9. She has broken her promise. 10. We were kept waiting at the door.
MAY
The modal verb "MAY" has two tense forms
MAY - present
MIGHT - past
and is used in it's three meanings:
| Concrete | Imperative | Suppositional |
| · Possibility of the fact/only in the affirmative sentences/ One may often see such faces in the north of Russia. | · Permission/mostly in the interrogative and the affirmative sentences/ May I come in? May I go now? You may go. | · Supposition or uncertainty used only in the affirmative and negative sentences He may come or he may not. They may be arriving! Why hasn't she come? He may have been hurt |
| · "Might" is used in the polite requests for permission. Might I use your dictionary? | · "May" and "Might" are not used in questions. We should use the constructions: Is it Likely....? Do you think....? | |
| · Prohibition You may not leave the house. | ||
| · "Might" is used to express reproach/about the past and present/. You might leave the child alone. You might have bought her flowers | ||
| BE LIKELY TO | Present and Future | Past |
| possibility, probability: substitute for MAY, MIGHT, MUST in questions | Is he likely to be at the library now? (Вероятно ли, что он сейчас в библиотеке?) Is he likely to come back soon? (Похоже ли, что он скоро вернется?) | Was he likely to be at the library at four o'clock yesterday? (Вероятно ли, что он был в библиотеке вчера в четыре часа?) |
EXERCISES
Ex. 1. Insert the correct form of may/might except in 10 and 36, where a be allowed form is necessary.
1. It -... rain, you'd better take a coat. 2. He said that it... rain. 3. We... as well stay here till the weather improves. 4.... I borrow your umbrella? 5. You... tell me! (I think I have a right to know). 6. Candidates... not bring textbooks into the examination room. 7. People convicted of an offence... (have a right to) appeal. 8. If he knew our address he... come and see us. 9... I come in? ~ Please do. 10. When he was a child he... (they let him) do exactly as he liked. 11. I think I left my glasses in your office. You... ask your secretary to look for them for me. (request). 12. He... be my brother (I admit that he is) but I don't trust him. 13. I... never see you again. 14. He... be on the next train. We... as well wait. 15. If we got there early we... get a good seat. 16. The police... (have a right to) ask a driver to take a breath test. 17. You ought to buy now; prices... go up. 18. I'll wait a week so that he... have time to think it over. 19. He isn't going to eat it; 1... as well give it to the dog. 20. You... at least read the letter. (/ think you should). 21. You... have written, (I am annoyed/disappointed that you didn't). 22. We'd better be early; there... be a crowd. 23. Nobody knows how people first came to these islands. They... have sailed from South America on rafts. 24. You... (have permission to) use my office. 25. He said that we... use his office whenever we liked. 26. I don't think I'll succeed but I... as well try. 27. You ought to go to his lectures, you... learn something. 28. If we can give him a blood transfusion we... be able to save his life. 29. Two parallel white lines in the middle of the road mean that you... not overtake. 30. If I bought a lottery ticket I... win Ј1,000. 31. If you said that, he... be very offended. 32. I wonder why they didn't go. ~ The weather... have been too bad. 33. Warning: No part of this book... be reproduced without the publisher's permission. 34. He has refused, but he... change his mind if you asked him again. 35.... I see your passport, please? 36. He... (negative) drive since his accident. (They haven't let him drive).
Ex. 2. Translate from Russian into English.
1. Может быть, он говорит правду. 2. Возможно, он сказал тебе правду. 3. Возможно, он тебе не солгал. 4. Может быть, она именно сейчас печатает это письмо. 5. Возможно, она уже напечатала письмо. 6. Может быть, она напечатает письма завтра. 7. Может быть, он послал ей телеграмму. 8. Может быть, он не послал ей телеграмму. 9. Возможно, он понимает по-норвежски. 10. Может быть, его напугали. 11. Может быть, он сейчас занят. 12. Возможно, их вчера не было в городе. 13. Может быть, он сейчас завтракает. 14. Может быть, она вас неправильно поняла. 15. Может быть, он неправильно написал имя. 16. Может быть, она потеряла мой адрес.
