Grammar-Quizzes › Verb Phrases › Verb Groups › Modals › Will vs. Might

Will vs. Might

Express varying degrees of certainty

Polar Bears straned on an iceflow
 

In Context

There are fewer than 25,000 polar bears left in the arctic wilderness. Polar bears rely on arctic ice to survive. As the ice melts, polar bears are losing their ice caves and their sea-ice hunting grounds, which must be stressful for them as they look for ways to survive.

On land, polar bears are finding fewer seals to eat. Some are starving to death and many more may follow. They search for whatever they can find to eat such as seaweed, fish, whale carcasses, and snow-goose eggs. But these foods are not enough to sustain the present polar bear population.

Sometimes, dolphins head north into the warmer arctic seas and become trapped in the arctic ice as winter sets in. Polar bears eat the trapped dolphins, which are a new fat-rich food source. Other kinds of fish might follow and swim into the arctic seas. If this happens, then polar bears could survive, but not in the same large numbers.

Polar bears are going to have to keep adapting as they search for food. It will take a few more decades for polar bears to successfully make the move to land or to perish along with the melting sea ice.

GLOSSARY

adapt (V) – make changes to live in new conditions or a new environment

arctic (Adj) – located in, coming from or living in the northern region, the North Pole

decade (N) – a period of time, ten years

fat-rich food source – a food that contains enough calories to keep the bear alive

follow (V) – come after, have the same result

head (V) – go, move forward

hunting grounds – areas where animals search and kill other animals for food

migrate (V) – move from one place to another to find food, shelter and other needs

population (N) – total number of people or animals in a particular area or region

search for (V) – look for, seek

source (N) – place of origin, the place or thing that something comes from

starve (V) – die of hunger;  starving (Participial Adj); starvation (N) – suffering or death caused by not enough food.

stress (N) – something that is worrisome, difficult, daunting, causing emotional pressure

survive (V) – manage to live through difficult times and harsh conditions

sustain (V) – support, supply enough food (keep alive)

trapped (Adj) – contained within a small space; unable to move freely

whale carcass – the dead body and bones of a whale that is on land

wilderness (N) – an area far away from where humans live; a wildlife habitat

 

 

Degrees of Certainty – Present and Future

CERTAIN

certainThe modal will expresses how sure a person is that a situation is factual, true or not true. The person may believe the situation to be factual from shared knowledge or by first-hand observation. The modal must expresses that a person infers a situation to be factual by putting together facts (clues) and forming a conclusion from them.
MODAL

Polar bears are starving.  (known fact or first-hand observation)

Polar bears will starve. (prediction from known facts)

Polar bears are going to starve. (prediction from known facts)

Polar bears must be starving.  (conclusion from known facts)
NEGATIVE MODAL

Polar bears won't starve. (prediction from known facts)

Polar bears must not be starving.  (conclusion from known facts)
CLAUSE

I am sure that polar bears are starving. (believe as fact)

I am certain that polar bears are starving. (believe as fact)

It is likely that polar bears are starving. (infer from facts)

It is probable that polar bears are starving. (infer from facts)

I conclude that polar bears are starving.(infer from facts)

It is doubtful that polar bears are starving.(infer from facts)
UNCERTAIN

possibleThe modals may, might, and could express a person's uncertainty. The person may be uncertain due to having very little shared or first-hand knowledge, or very little or incomplete information. The modal might is considered slightly less certain than may by some speakers. (Both are used in present and future situations.)                    
MODAL

Polar bears may be starving. (possibly)

Polar bears might be starving. (possibly)

Polar bears could be starving. (possibly)

*Polar bears can be starving.  (not used)
NEGATIVE MODAL

Polar bears may / might not be starving. (possibly not)

Polar bears couldn't be starving. (not possible)
CLAUSE

It is possible that polar bears will starve. (guess, speculation)

Polar bears will possibly starve. (guess, speculation)

Perhaps, polar bears will starve. (guess, speculation)

Maybe, polar bears will starve. (guess, speculation)

I am uncertain whether polar bears will starve or not.

Who knows whether polar bears will starve.
 

clue (N) – information that helps you understand the reasons why something happens

fact (N) – A fact is a statement that is consistent with reality or can be proven with evidence. The usual test for a statement of fact is verifiability, whether it can be demonstrated to correspond to experience.  (Wikipedia–fact)

factual (Adj) – something based on fact, something known to be true

factuality (N) – the degree to which one can accept something as fact, true; based on facts; also called epistemic (Huddleston 178)

infer (V) – to form an opinion that something is probably true because of information that you have

inference (N) – an opinion that is formed on details or knowledge that you have

likely (N) – probable, probably true

speculation (N) – a guess about the possible causes or effects of something, without knowing all the facts or details

You may be right. (low certainty) / You might be right  (lower certainty) The past modal form expresses "remoteness". (Huddleston3 §9.8.3.b) Grammar Notes

"4 Ways Polar Bears Are Dealing with Climate Change." By Rachel A. Becker, 4 Sep. 2015, National Geographic.  news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/09/150904-polar-bears-dolphins-seals-climate-change/?

See Modal Review – Possibility – weak to strong (epistemic modal use)

 

 

 

 

 

Was, Must have, Might have

Degrees of Certainty – Past

 

 

Degrees of Certainty – Past

CERTAIN –  REFLECTION

certainVerbs in the past tense or past perfect express fact based on known information or details. Past modals must have and could not have express opinion based on inference, putting together known details and coming to a conclusion.
MODAL

Polar ice melted.

Polar bears lost their icy habitat.

Polar bears must have lost their food supply 

NEGATIVE MODAL

Polar bear cubs didn't die from the cold.

Polar bears could not have fed their cubs.
CLAUSE

I am (was) sure that polar bear cubs died from starvation.

It is (was) likely that polar bears found no food for their cubs.
UNCERTAIN – SPECULATION

possiblePast modals might have and could have express opinion based on very little information, a guess about the  (with perhaps other interpretations) or speculation about a past situation.                                                                     
MODAL

Polar bears may have found other food sources.

Polar bears might have found other food sources.

Polar bears could have found other food sources.

NEGATIVE MODAL

Polar bears may not have found food for their cubs.

Polar bears might not have found food for their cubs.
CLAUSE

It is/was doubtful that the polar bears found any ice from which to hunt seals.  

 

reflection (N) – remembering the past 

inference (N) –   something that you think is true, based on information that you have

speculation (N) –  a good guess; likely

Also see Might / Must have – past guesses and inferences.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Must

One word with two meanings

 

 

 

Must (inference) vs. Must (necessity)

#1 MUST

probableA speaker uses must to express a logical conclusion, an inference based on clues or information that one knows.  The speaker's certainty is "strong".
AN INFERENCE / A CONCLUSION

Polar bears go into seaside towns looking for garbage.
Polar bears must be hungry.  (near certain)

Ice no longer covers the polar regions all year.
Polar bears must be suffering with this change. (near certain)

A normally peaceful bear attacked and killed some arctic campers. The bear must have been looking for food. (near certain)
#2 MUST

obligation (strong)A speaker also uses must to express obligation, duty, or necessity, something that someone "has to do". The speaker's opinion is "strong".                                          

NECESSITY / OBLIGATION

Polar bears must be fed or relocated. (strong – necessity)

Polar bears must swim long distances to find ice and seals to eat.  (strong – necessity)

The campers had to shoot the bear.
(Necessity in the past tense is expressed with "had to" not "must have".)
 

inference (N) –   something that you think is true, based on information that you have
See Should /Must and Must / Must have.
Also see Modal Review – Obligation.

 

 

 

 

 

Modals

Word Order

 

 

Word Order in a Clause

AUX VERB SUBJECT MODAL VERB BASE COMPLEMENT
STATEMENT        
 

Polar bears

could

die 

of starvation.

 

 

may / might

 

 

 

 

must

be 

hungry. 

QUESTION        

Could

polar bears

 

die 

of starvation?

*May/ *Might

 

 

 

 

Is it possible that     

polar bears

will

die 

of starvation?
TAG QUESTION        

 

Polar bears

could

die

of starvation,

 

 

may/ might

 

 

 

 

must

be 

hungry. 

It is possible that

polar bears

will

die

of starvation.
NEGATIVE        
 

Polar bears

may / might not

die 

of starvation.

 

Polar bears

may not

die 

of starvation.

 

Polar bears

could not

die 

of starvation.

It is doubtful that
It is unlikely that

polar bears

will

die 

of starvation.
PAST        
 

Scientists

might have

predicted

this.

 

Scientists

may have 

predicted

this.

 

Scientists

could have 

predicted

this.
NEG. PAST        

 

Scientists

might not have

predicted

this.

 

 

Scientists

may not have

predicted

this.

 

Scientists

could not have

predicted

this.
W / ADVERB        

 

We

might suddenly

lose

this species.

 

We

may eventually

lose

this species.

 

We

could also

lose

this species.

It is possible that
Possibly,  

we

will soon

lose

this species.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

► Show Grammar Notes and Works Cited ▼ Hide Grammar Notes

Grammar Notes (Advanced)

Grammar Descriptions

 

 

 

Traditional / ESL and Linguistic Descriptions

AZAR / BIBER HUDDLESTON / SWAN
AZAR HUDDLESTON

Will expresses a high degree of certainty. (Azar 10-1-2)

  • 100% degree of certainty → He is sick / He will be sick. (future) → Speaker feels sure.

Must — expresses a strong degree of certainty about a present situation, but the degree of certainty is still less than 100%.  (10-1)

  • 95% degree of certainty → He must be sick.

Might — may, might, could express a weak degree of certainty. (10-1)

  • 50% degree of certainty → He might be sick. → perhaps, maybe "I am making a guess." "There are other possibilities."

     

Modality (3 §9.2.2)  See Modality for epistemic, deontic, and dynamic examples.

epistemic modals "knowledge" – what the speaker believes is probable; likelihood based on inference (factuality)  He must / may / might be here.

Will conveys a lower degree of modal meaning…  (Is it opinion or prediction?) (Huddleston 3 §9.5)  Will expresses futurity (epistemic) → He will be two years-old tomorrow.

Must  has the same epistemic strength as will, and must in its central-epistemic use can generally replace will with relatively little change of meaning.

May expresses possibility (epistemic) and is often used subjectively: I don't know that the proposition is false and put it forward as a possibility.  → He may stay here. (possibly)

Might  (3 §9.8) tentative (epistemic) → You may be right. (low % of possibility)  / You might be right. (lower % of possibility than may  (3 §9.8.3.b)
 

BIBER SWAN

Will / Might    There is no formal future tense in English. (6.2.1.3) 
Modals and semi-modals can be grouped into three categories: (485)

  • permission/ possibility / ability: can, could, may, might
  • obligation / necessity: must, should, had better, have (got) to, need to ought to, be supposed to
  • volition / prediction: will, would, shall, be going to

 Semi-modals → be going (to), ought (to), have (to), need (to), had better, have got (to), be supposed (to)
 

Will can express certainty or confidence about present or future situations. (629.3)

  • certainty → As I'm sure you will understand, we cannot wait any longer.

May / Might expresses the chance (possibility) that something will happen, or is happening. (Might is more doubtful than may.) (339)

  • unlikely → Peter might phone.  (possible, but not very likely, more hesitant than may)  I may go. (50% chance)  I might go. (30% chance) (339.2)

 

 

 

Works Cited

  • Azar, Betty Schrampfer, and Stacy A. Hagen. Understanding and Using English Grammar. 4th ed., Pearson Education, 2009.
  • Biber, Douglas, and Stig Johansson, et al. Longman Grammar Of Spoken And Written English. Pearson Education, 1999.
  • Huddleston, Rodney D., and Geoffrey K. Pullum. The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language. Cambridge UP, 2002.
  • Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. 3rd ed., Oxford UP, 2005.

 

 

 

 

Practice 1

Scientists' Findings

Polar Bear
 

 

What can we do to help polar bears?

In May 2008, the U.S. and several countries listed the polar bear as a threatened species. In a short time, a large amount of polar ice has melted.

Soon, a large number of polar bears will lose their habitat. Biologists might be able to do some temporary things, such as building ice platforms for polar bears to rest upon. However, most scientists agree that this will not help polar bears hunt for food or build their dens.

The only way to help polar bears will be to slow down global warming. That might be possible if we can lower green house gas emissions. Human activities will need to change. 

Natural fluctuations in the climate system will continue with global warming. As a result, scientists can't predict when all the ice will melt; it may be sooner than later than.  But it is going to happen. It is doubtful whether we can reverse the melting of polar ice, but we can slow it down.

biologist (N)  – a scientist who studies life forms, living things (biology)

den (N) – an animal home in the ice or snow; an ice cave

floating (Adj) – rests on top, on the surface, of water

fluctuation (N) – continual change, from one point to another: hot and cold, rain and drought.

global warming (N) – rising temperatures on earth

green house gas emissions (N) – toxic gases from cars, factories, and other human activities  (GHG)

melt (V) – when ice changes to water; solid becomes liquid

platform (N) – a surface raised above the level of the surrounding area; an artificial ice island

reverse (V) – stop, or turn it around

threatened (Adj) – in danger of extinction (no more of its type existing)

 

"Global Warming." Polar Bears International, 2013. polarbearsinternational.org

 

 

 

How certain is the writer?

  1. Select the response that best completes the sentence. 
  2. Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check" or the "Check 1-10" button.

 

1.
Soon, a large number of polar bears will lose their habitat. 

     

2.
Biologists might be able to do some temporary things, such as building ice platforms for polar bears to rest upon.

   

3.
However, most scientists agree that this will not help polar bears hunt for food or build their dens.

   

4.
The only way to help polar bears will be to slow down global warming.

   

5.
That might be possible if we can lower green house gas emissions.

   

6.
Human activities will need to change. 

   

7.
Natural fluctuations in the climate system will continue with global warming.

   

8.
As a result, scientists can't predict when all the ice will melt; it may be sooner than later than.

   

9.
But it is going to happen.

   

10.
It is doubtful whether we can reverse the melting of polar ice, but we can slow it down.

   

 

 

 

 

 

Practice 2

Polar Bear Diet

a ringed seal in an ice hole

 

 

A Polar Bear's Diet

The main diet of the polar bear is the Ringed Seal. 

A seal cuts several breathing holes in the ice because it has to surface for air every five to fifteen minutes.

A polar bear looks for a breathing hole so that it can prey on a seal.  It waits several hours or days for a seal to come up through its breathing hole.  Polar bears are very smart and patient to catch a seal. 

 

A polar bear sometimes stalks a ringed seal that is sunbathing on the ice.  The bear crawls forward very slowly and freeze in place when the seal lifts its head.  At about 20 feet, the bear runs and kills the seal before it can escape back into the sea.

Another source of food is the Beluga whale. A whale sometimes gets trapped in the ice. If so, it becomes easy prey for polar bears. In such an event, one sometimes sees twenty or more polar bears surrounding and eating one whale carcass.

breathing hole (N) an air hole in the ice for mammals

prey (V) – hunt and eat  prey (N) – the animals that are hunted and eaten by other animals

stalk (V) – to follow or get closer to an animal slowly and quietly in order to catch and kill it

surface (V) – swim to the top of the water (the air above)

surround (V) – go on all sides of something; encircle

trapped (Adj) – caught, stuck, unable to move, not free

 

"Hunting and Eating." Polar Bears International. 2013 polarbearsinternational.org

 

 

 

Is the activity likely or unlikely to happen?

  1. Select the word from the list that best expresses the degree of certainty. 
  2. Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check" or the "Check 11-20" button.

 

11.

12.

13.

14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Practice 3

Will Polar Bears Survive?

Grizzly and polar bear fighting
 

 

Read and Rewrite

New research shows that polar bears (survive) in the past through warm periods. And a few scientists say they (do) so again in the future.

A study of polar bears and brown bears indicates that the two (split) around five million years ago. There (be) interbreeding between the two throughout their evolutionary history.

Polar bears (be) now very different from the grizzly bears. Polar bears are very specialized to a sea ice environment. Grizzly bears are very well-adapted to a land environment. A few scientist believe they (interbreed and survive).

Other scientists believe that if they do interbreed, the new creature would no longer resemble a polar bear.  The genes would be passed on, but the bear (be) something very different.

The fact that they have survived in the past does not mean they (survive) through this next global warming, at least not as large, white, sea-hunting bears.

Unless we take action to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, polar bears (face) an uncertain future in which the climate continues to warm. If temperatures rise higher than ever before, polar bears (not survive).

environment (N) – the area around

gene (N) – the DNA; a part of a cell in a living thing that controls what it looks like, how it grows, and how it develops

interbreed (V) – breed or mate with a closely related individual, as in a small, closed population.

species (N) – related individuals that resemble one another, are able to breed among themselves, but are not able to breed with members of another species.

split (V) – broke apart; became different

survive (V) – to continue to live after an accident, war, illness, or natural disaster

 

 

 

 

Rewrite the paragraph to include expressions of doubt and certainty.  (See present and past examples above.)

  1. Edit the sentence(s) in the text box.   Answers may vary.
  2. Compare your response to the feedback by clicking the "Check" or the "Check 21-30" button.

 

21.
New research shows that polar bears (survive) in the past through warm periods.  (reflection on a fact)


22.
And a few scientists say they (do) so again in the future.  (certain)


23.
A study of polar bears and brown bears indicates that the two (split) around five million years ago. (conclusion)


24.
There (be) interbreeding between the two throughout their evolutionary history. (speculation)


25.
Polar bears (be) now very different from the grizzly bears. (certain)


26.
A few scientists believe they (interbreed and survive). (speculation)


27.
The genes would be passed on, but the bear (be) something very different. (speculation)


28.
The fact that they have survived in the past does not mean they (survive) through this next global warming, at least not as large, white, sea-hunting bears. (certain)


29.
Unless we take action to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, polar bears (face) an uncertain future in which the climate continues to warm. (certain)


30.
If temperatures rise higher than ever before, polar bears (not survive). (doubt)