You say: It will rain today
if you are certain or sure it will rain.
If you are not certain you say: It might rain today.
or Perhaps it will rain today. or Maybe it will rain today.
ANNE He might have a neckband.
2. POSSIBILITY IN THE PAST
When we use might to talk about the past we always use it with have I might have thrown the cup in the bin.
This means that you are not sure if you have thrown the cup in the bin.
Notice that we use might have with the past participle of the verb throw. I might have thrown the cup in the bin.
The past participle is the form of the verb used with forms of have. I have thrown it out.
She has seen your work.
Most of the time the past participle is the same as the past tense. You might have studied this before.
JOHN It’s just, I’m thinking he might have changed his appearance – if he didn’t want to be found.
The other words we use for possibilities in the past (maybe and perhaps) are used with the simple past tense. Perhaps I threw the cup in the bin. Maybe I threw the cup in the bin.
Perhaps I did throw the cup in the bin. Maybe I did throw the cup in the bin.
JOHN Maybe you did see him at the market.
John could have said: Maybe you saw him at the market.
or Perhaps you saw him at the market.
or You might have seen him at the market.
3. TALKING ABOUT MATERIALS
The wallet is made of leather.
It’s a leather wallet.
The cup is made of china.
It’s a china cup.
The spoon is made of metal.
It’s a metal spoon.
The t-shirt is made of cotton.
It’s a cotton t-shirt.
The vase is made of glass.
It’s a glass vase.
The frames are made of tortoise-shell.
They’re tortoise-shell frames.
The spoon is made of wood.
It’s a wooden spoon.
Properties
Something that is transparent is clear, or can be seen through. The vase is transparent.
Something that is opaque can’t be seen through. All the other objects are opaque.
Something that is pliable is easily bent. The leather wallet is pliable.
Watch Living English and get to know the characters of our drama 'Sisters and Brothers' as you learn and revise your basic English skills.