Step 54: Maybe, Perhaps
Uncertainty — May, might, could: possibility
📖 Read — Where Is Tom?
It's Saturday afternoon, and nobody knows where Tom is. “He may be at the gym,” says Jack. “Or he might be at the library — he has a test on Monday. He could even be at home, sleeping!”
The friends make plans, but everything is up in the air. “We may go to the beach tomorrow,” says Emma, “but it might rain. Let's check the weather in the morning.” Just then, Tom calls: “Sorry! I was at the dentist.” Everyone laughs. Mystery solved!
🧩 Grammar — May, Might, Could — Possibility
When you are NOT SURE, use may, might, or could + verb: He may be at home. It might rain. She could be busy. They all mean 'it's possible'. The negative is might not / may not: It might not rain. (Don't use 'couldn't' for present possibility — that means 'impossible' or past ability.) Add maybe/perhaps at the start of a sentence for the same idea: Maybe he's at the gym.
- He may be at the library.
- It might snow tonight.
- They could be on the bus.
- We might not have time tomorrow.
🏗️ Key structures
- He may / might be ___ — She might be at work.
- It could ___ — It could rain later.
- Maybe ___ / We might not ___ — Maybe he's sleeping. / We might not go.
⭐ Idiom & natural phrases
Our weekend plans are still up in the air.
🔤 New words
say what you think when you don't know
I guess he's about thirty years old.
certain; having no doubt
I'm not sure where he is.
completely sure; without any doubt
Are you certain about the time?
almost certainly; in most cases yes
She'll probably be late.
maybe; something could happen
Could you possibly help me?
think something will happen
I expect the train will be late.
not sure; not certain
I'm unsure about the answer.
think something is true
I believe he's at the gym.
🎧 Say it with me
He may be at the gym, or he might be at the library. We may go to the beach tomorrow, but it might rain — everything is up in the air!
🎤 Your turn to speak
Guess where three people are right now using may/might/could be, then make two 'maybe' plans for your weekend.
Say it out loud three times. Even better: record it on your phone and listen — your ear is your best teacher.
✍️ Your turn to write
Write 4 sentences about your uncertain weekend: use may, might, could, and might not.
See a model answer
On Saturday, I may visit my cousins in Houston. We might go to a museum, or we could stay home and cook. The weather might not be good, so we'll decide in the morning. Maybe we'll watch a movie instead!
Self-check: capital letters? Full stops? Did you use the grammar of this step?
📝 Quick check
Go deeper
This step is a doorway — the full lesson goes much further:
Modal Verbs: can / could / should / may / might / must — full lesson + 50-question quiz
🎉 Saved in your progress!