🧭 Grammar · Modal Verbs
Possibility: May, Might & Could
Three words for “maybe” — and the one negative form that secretly means something completely different.
Grammar › Modal Verbs › Possibility: May, Might & Could
The rule in one sentenceUse may, might or could to say something is possible now or in the future — they’re nearly interchangeable in the positive, but their negatives are not.
What’s the difference?
For everyday possibility, may, might and could do almost the same job, and native speakers move between them freely. A restored print of Black Girl may screen at the festival this year, a restored print of Black Girl might screen at the festival this year, and a restored print of Black Girl could screen at the festival this year are all natural, and all mean roughly “it’s possible”. May leans slightly more formal — you’ll see it in news reports and press releases. Might is the most neutral, everyday choice, common in casual conversation about films. Could also works for possibility, but it’s the one most often used in real questions: Could Edward Berger’s next project be another biopic? sounds far more natural than May Edward Berger’s next project be another biopic?
The real trap isn’t the positive form — it’s the negative. May not and might not both mean “perhaps not” — genuine uncertainty. But can’t and couldn’t don’t mean “perhaps not” at all; they mean “it’s impossible” or “I’m confident this is false”. Mixing these up is one of the most common B1 errors.
🎬 Compare: “Michael B. Jordan might not return for another Creed film” (maybe he won’t, we genuinely don’t know) vs. “That rumour can’t be true — Warner Bros. already confirmed the next instalment is filming” (impossible, because the facts rule it out).
Might not = “perhaps not”. Can’t/couldn’t = “definitely not, based on the evidence”.
How to build it
May
The next Marvel villain may be revealed at Comic-Con.
Osgood Perkins may not direct a sequel to The Monkey.
Might
A local cinema might screen Where Is the Friend’s House as part of an upcoming retrospective.
The Scream franchise might not continue past a seventh film.
Could
A newly restored print of Cairo Station could screen at more festivals this year.
Could Sean Baker’s next film be another biopic?
When to use which
May & might — stating a possibility
- Predicting future events: A new restoration of Moolaadé may reach a wider audience through streaming.
- Speculating in reviews: Taste of Cherry might feel even more powerful on a rewatch.
- Formal writing and news: Analysts say Disney may delay the live-action Lilo & Stitch sequel release.
Could — questions & unrealised past chances
- Asking about possibility: Could a restored print of Twenty-Four Eyes return to cinemas next year?
- A past possibility that never happened: Fernando Meirelles could have retired after Cidade de Deus, but he kept directing.
- Impossibility with can’t/couldn’t: That can’t be the original release version — restorations of Touki Bouki have varied in length over the decades.
Signal words: your instant clue
These words and phrases almost always show up alongside genuine possibility — they signal that the speaker isn’t sure.
Visual guide
Teacher Teddy’s illustrated guide to this rule is being drawn — the full swipe-through infographic will appear here soon.
Common mistakes
❌ Brady Corbet mays direct a horror film next.
✅ Brady Corbet may direct a horror film next.
Modal verbs never take -s, even with he, she or it.
❌ A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night could to screen at more festivals next year.
✅ A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night could screen at more festivals next year.
Could is followed directly by the base verb, never “to”.
❌ I’m not sure, but that rumour about a Frozen III delay can’t be true.
✅ I’m not sure, but that rumour about a Frozen III delay might not be true.
Can’t/couldn’t means “impossible” — for genuine uncertainty, use might not or may not.
❌ The next Marvel villain could be reveal at Comic-Con.
✅ The next Marvel villain could be revealed at Comic-Con.
After “could be”, use the past participle for a passive meaning, not the base form.
Exceptions & tricky cases
Four cases where the basic rule needs a closer look.
1. Could have + past participle = a possibility that never happened. This describes something that was possible in the past but didn’t occur.
✅ Nadine Labaki could have retired after Capernaum, but she kept directing for another two decades.
2. May have / might have for uncertain past events. Both are used to guess about something that already happened, with almost no difference in meaning.
✅ The ending of Twenty-Four Eyes may have moved even casual viewers to tears — might have moved works equally well.
3. Might can soften an opinion, not just describe a fact. Speakers use it to sound less direct when disagreeing.
✅ It might just be me, but I think Where Is the Friend’s House is one of the most quietly moving films ever made about childhood.
4. Can’t/couldn’t for confident deduction, not weak possibility. This is the negative opposite of “must” for logical certainty, not the negative of “may”.
✅ That can’t be right — critics have long confirmed Close-Up blends real documentary footage with staged reenactment.
Practice: choose the right form
Eight quick questions. Pick the answer you’d actually say — you get the explanation either way.
1. The next actor to headline a new Terminator film ___ be announced before the end of the year.
Modal verbs never take -s, whatever the subject.
2. Ana de Armas ___ in the next Presence film — nothing is confirmed yet.
Could is followed directly by the base verb, never “to”.
3. I’m not sure, but that rumour about a Frozen III delay ___ be true.
Genuine uncertainty needs might not, not can’t — can’t means “impossible”.
4. That ___ be the real ending of Furiosa — the director already confirmed a different one in an interview.
Confirmed facts rule this out completely — that’s can’t, not might.
5. The director of Equinox Flower ___ retired after making it, but he kept directing for several more years.
A past possibility that didn’t actually happen needs “could have” + past participle.
6. The next Marvel villain ___ at Comic-Con next month.
After “could be”, use the past participle for a passive meaning.
7. Perhaps RaMell Ross ___ direct a Nickel Boys sequel one day.
Modal verbs never change form — “mights” doesn’t exist.
8. Critics say the ending of Civil War (2024) ___ confused casual viewers.
The perfect form after may is always “have” + past participle, never “has”.
Keep going
More lessons in Modal Verbs:
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