Supposition implying uncertainty.

In Russian this meaning is generally rendered by means of the modal words: “наверное” and “возможно”, “может быть”.

In this meaning “may” may be followed by different forms of the Infinitive depending on the time reference expressed.

a) “May” in combination with the Indefinite Infinitive usually refers the action to the future.

e.g. The Trustees and the visiting committee may arrive on Wednesday.

The action may also refer to the present but only with verbs that are not used in the Continuous form.

e.g. Jerusha may be the oldest orphan of the asylum.

b) “May” in combination with the Continuous Infinitive refers the action to the present.

e.g. Pr. Fox may be having an interview with the new assistant Erik Gorin.

c) “May” in combination with the Perfect Infinitive refers the action to the past.

e.g. Erik Gorin may have left his address with Miss Prescott, the secretary.

This combination of “may” with the Perfect Infinitive may also indicate an action begun in the past and continued into the moment of speaking. This is usually found with verbs which have no Continuous form.

e.g. Professor Fox may have been the chairman of the Physics Department for 12 years.

d) However, if “may” is followed by a verb that can have the Continuous form the Perfect Continuous Infinitive is used in this case.

e.g. Erik may have been teaching freshman physics lab for two years.

In the meaning of supposition implying uncertainty, the form “might” is also frequently found. It differs from the form “may” in that it emphasises more the idea of uncertainty.

SET PHRASES WITH THE VERB “MAY”:

1) “I may (might) as well + Infinitive” is a very mild way of expressing an intention. This combination is rendered in Russian as something like: “Я, пожалуй...”

2) “might just as well + Infinitive” means “it would be equally good to...”.This combination is rendered in Russian as something like: “с таким же успехом можно было и ...”, “это все равно, что...”

3) “It might have been worse” means: “Things are not so bad after all”. It is translated into Russian as: “Могло быть и хуже, в конце концов, дело обстоит не так уж и плохо”.

EXERCISES:

1. Translate the following sentences into Russian. State the meaning of the modal verb “may”:

1) Now you may take a piece of prune pudding.

2) You may not enter the office.

3) On the shelf one may see a lot of English books.

4) You might be more polite towards your friend.

5) You might have sent Erik an invitation anyhow.

6) Hortense may like the beaver jacket.

7) And by the artificial light Hortense might have seen how really fetching she did look in it.

8) Most of the staff may be away.

9) Erik may find that the first year is rather confusing.

10) The conflict between the fear to make a poor impression and the desire to tell the truth may have been torturing Gorin for a moment.

2. Refer to the past:

1) Father may be working in the garden.

2) Mary may be offended by your remark.

3) You may take any book you like.

4) You might help me to carry the suitcase.

5) It is too cold out. You may not leave the house.

3. Express supposition implying uncertainty:

1) Maudy is crying bitterly.

2) The dean is repremanding a friend of yours.

3) John is smiling happily.

4) Pete is sending a parsel.

5) The child is frightened.

6) The mother is angry with the son.

4. Paraphrase the following sentences using the modal verb “may”:

1) Perhaps you have taken him for another man.

2) It is possible that they should have quarrelled.

3) I suppose he will come back soon.

4) May be they don’t remember the date.

5) Perhaps he decided to hold an open house for all the members of the staff.

5. Translate into English:

1) Вы можете оставить свой адрес у секретаря.

2) В библиотеке вы можете найти много книг по механике, оптике и электричеству.

3) Работа по двум расписаниям, возможно, покажется вам трудной.

4) Студентом он, возможно, прослушал лишь общий курс физики.

5) Сиротам, вероятно, напомнили о манерах и велели отвечать “Да, сэр” или “Нет, сэр”, когда опекун обращался к ним.

6) Вы могли бы помочь мисс Липпет подкрахмалить платья.

7) Девочки, наверное, боятся измять только что подкрахмаленные платья.

MUST

The verb “must” has only one form. To supply the missing forms “to be obliged” and “to have to” are used.

The verb “must” has the following meanings:

1) duty, obligation, necessity (from the speaker’s point of view).

e.g. I hope Jan is in form today. We must shout for his team.

Prohibition.

e.g. You mustn’t give up your studies, they are more important than football.

Emphatic advice.

e.g. You must buy this beaver jacket. You’ll never get another coat like that in this city.

In the meanings mentioned above the modal verb “must” is followed only by the Indefinite Infinitive.