Might / Might Not: Possibility
Learn how to express present and future possibility using might and might not.
- check_circleI can talk about present possibility.
- check_circleI can talk about future possibility.
Discover
Meet today's English in a real situation — no rules yet. Read it once and try to guess the pattern in the words in bold. Underlined words open a short definition.
Sam: Hey, do you want to play tennis this afternoon?
Alex: I’m not sure. I might have to work late today. There is a lot to do.
Sam: Oh, that’s a pity. What about tomorrow?
Alex: Tomorrow is better. I might not be busy in the morning. We can play at 10 AM.
Sam: Great! But check the weather. It might rain tomorrow morning.
Alex: You’re right. Let’s wait and see. I will send you a message tonight.
Learn
Now the rules behind what you just saw — explained simply, with examples. Underlined words open a short definition — hover on desktop, tap on a phone.
We use might to say that something is possible now or in the future. It means we are not 100% sure.
Might is a modal verb. It is the same for all subjects (I, you, he, she, it, we, they), and we always use the base form of the verb after it.
Affirmative
Subject + might + verb
She might be at home now. (Present possibility = Maybe she is at home)
We might go to the beach tomorrow. (Future possibility = Maybe we will go to the beach)
Negative
Subject + might not + verb
We usually don’t contract might not in modern English. We say “might not”, not “mightn’t”.
It might not rain later. Let’s go for a walk.
He might not attend the meeting because he is feeling sick.
Common Mistakes
Do not use to after might.
I might to go out tonight.
I might go out tonight.
Do not add -s for he/she/it.
She mights come.
She might come.
- Possibility: Use might to say something is possible.
- Form: Subject + might / might not + base verb.
- No -s: Never add -s to might.
- No to: Never use “to” after might.
Practice
Try it yourself. You'll see right away whether you got it right, plus a short explanation of why.
Use It
Now make the language yours in a real task. Use the prompt below — the editor keeps a simple word count, and nothing is saved or graded.
Before you finish — be honest. Can you do these now?