3. Disapproval, reproach.

1. You might tell me what he said, I am annoyed that you do not.

2. You might have done it all yourself instead of asking other people to help you.

Exercise 1.

Express disapproval/reproach based on the following sentences. Use the perfect infinitive to refer the situation to the past.

Example:

1) You do not remember your child’s birthday.

You might remember your child’s birthday.

2) You did not switch off the lights before leaving.

You might have switched off the lights before

leaving.

1. You do not wear your new suit to the office.

2. You did not sew the buttons on, Alice.

3. You did not even notice how well she played. You do not pay attention to your child.

4. Do come and help me choose it.

5. You did not try hard enough.

6. You did not get up a little earlier and help me to clean up after the party.

7. You never let me know when something like this happens.

8. You didn’t give a detailed account.

9. You did not meet her at the station.

10. You always leave your room in disorder.

Exercise 2.

Express reproach giving possible reasons.

Example: Visit one’s friend / be ill.

• You might visit your friend as he is ill.

• You might have visited your friend last week as he was ill.

1. be more polite to customers / not lose the job

2. carry a trunk for my sister / be heavy

3. tell your arguments / come to a joint conclusion

4. consult the experts / sign a contract

5. order a room in the hotel in advance / think of my comfort

6. be frank with Father / get an assistance from him

7. speak to the man / know the truth

8. praise him / deserve it

9. help the girl / need assistance

10. do the room / have guests

Exercise 3.

Translate into English.

(A)

1. Можно бы ей помочь.

2. Можно бы оказать ей услугу.

3. Ему можно бы быть и серьезнее.

4. Ей можно бы читать больше.

5. Ты мог бы уделять больше внимания своему ребенку.

6. Ты мог бы больше помогать мне по дому.

(B)

1. Можно было бы предупредить меня об этом раньше.

2. Можно было бы уговорить ее помочь нам.

3. Можно было бы спросить разрешения, если вам хотелось заниматься в этой группе.

4. Можно было бы уговорить ее пойти к врачу немедленно.

5. Можно было бы вам подумать о докладе гораздо раньше.

6. Ты мог бы навестить меня в больнице.

4. Supposition.

1. It may (might) rain tonight.

2. She may(might) be sleeping now.

3. She may have fallen ill.

4. They may have been staying there since morning.

Exercise 1.

Make sentences around key-words so as to express supposition.

Example: do one’s lessons – Mary may be doing her lessons now.

Mary may have done her lessons already.

She may have been doing her lessons when you came.

rain It may rain tomorrow.

It may have rained at night.

It may have been raining when they got off the train.

1. snow

2. visit

3. go

4. use

Exercise 2.

Change the following sentences so as to express greater uncertainty.

1. It may be dry tomorrow.

2. He may be going to the Crimea.

3. She may be taken to hospital.

4. She may be away from school for a few days.

5. You may find it amusing.

6. He may be working in the garden now.

Exercise 3.

Complete these sentences with may or might so as to express supposition.

Example: - Do you know if Ann likes sweets?

- I’m not sure, she may (might) like sweets.

1. Do you know if they are married? – I’m not sure, they…

2. Do you know if she’s telling the truth? – I…

3. Do you know if he is at school? – I…

4. Do you know if it will rain tonight? – I…

5. Do you know if she likes poetry? – I…

6. Do you know if she is still asleep? – I…

7. Do you know if he knows her? – I…

8. Do you know if they are friends? – I…

9. Do you know if he is still sleeping? – I …

10. Do you know if they are still playing football? – I …

Example:

- Do you know if he was rude towards the boy?

- I’m not sure. He may have been rude.

1. Do you know if they missed the train? – I am not sure. They…

2. Do you know if the man was serious? – I…

3. Do you know if they were ready to go? – I…

4. Do you know if she was listening to music? – I…

5. Do you know if the car was damaged? – I…

6. Do you know if they left early? – I…

7. Do you know if Fred flew to Paris last year? – I…

8. Do you know if Ann caught the early train? – I…

9. Do you know if Helen was ill? – I…

10. Do you know if he did the test well? – I …

Exercise 4.

Give uncertain answers to the following questions.

Example: Where is Sue going? (to the theatre)

She may be going to the theatre.

1. Where are you going for your holidays? (Switzerland)

2. Why didn’t Ann answer the doorbell? (go to bed early)

3. Where is the meat I left on the table? (the cat, steal it)

4. Where is George? (play tennis)

5. How did the fire start? (Someone, drop a cigarette)

6. Why is Peter late? (miss the train)

7. Why didn’t Mary come to see us? (fall ill)

8. Who was that man? (Mr. Smith)

9. When do you expect them to come? (arrive next week)

10. Whose book is this? (Nina’s or not)

11. When did he finish his work? (a day or two ago)

Exercise 5.

A. Paraphrase the sentences using may or might to express supposition.

Example:

The day, perhaps, will be fine.

The day may be fine.

1. It’s possible the child has gone to his friend.

2. Perhaps they hear it for the first time.

3. Try this medicine, perhaps it’ll help you.

4. Perhaps they were proud of their daughter, but they never showed it.

5. I’m not sure whether you are right.

6. Perhaps the problem is too difficult for children.

7. Perhaps she will win the race.

8. Perhaps you changed at the wrong station.

9. Perhaps they forgot about the meeting.

10. Hurry up! Perhaps the shop is still open.

11. Perhaps they did not receive our message.

12. Maybe a Forsyte is still living in that house.

Exercise 6.

Change the sentences given below. Use may + Infinitive instead of modal words expressing supposition.

Example:

She is well up in English. Perhaps she has picked it up when a child.

She is well up in English. She may have picked it up when a child.

1. I haven’t heard from her for quite a while. Perhaps my new address has slipped from her memory.

2. There has been a lot of illness in her family. Perhaps she has fallen ill too.

3. Tom is subject to colds. It is likely that he has caught cold sitting in the draught.

4. Lucy did very well at the examination. Perhaps someone has given her a proper coaching in grammar.

5. I wonder we haven’t met them. Perhaps they have struck another road.

Exercise 7.

Complete the following sentences using ‘may (might)’ to express supposition.

1. It’s raining cats and dogs now but…

2. Trains usually run on schedule on this line but today because of the storm the 4.50 train…

3. The weather is very fickle in our parts and…

4. If we get hold of a taxi, we…

5. Nick is always pressed for time but this time he…

Exercise 8.

Insert ‘may’ or ‘might’ according to the sense.

1. I’m so glad the child is safely back. What with your careless driving he … have easily been injured.

2. I shan’t have a moment’s peace until the child is back. He … have met with an accident.

3. He isn’t back yet. He … have lost the way.

4. You oughtn’t to have driven that car so fast. You … have had a serious accident.

5. Sorry you didn’t tell him about our meeting in time. He … have come.

Exercise 9.

Complete the following fragments of dialogue using ‘may’ or ‘might + Perfect Infinitive’.

1.

A: Ann is looking very down at heel today. And she always takes such pains about her appearance. I really don’t know what to put it down to.

B: … (К чему зря беспокоиться? Может быть, она так оделась из-за дождя.)

A: I shouldn’t think so. Couldn’t she have put on a rain-coat?

B: … (Конечно, могла.)

2.

A: Where did I put the keys?

B: … (Может быть, ты оставила их в двери?)

A: I couldn’t have done it. Such things never happened to me before.

B: … (Ну, тогда ты их могла оставить на столике в передней.)