Maybe, Maybe Not: Might, May and Could

About This Resource

A complete Grade 5 ESL grammar pack on might, may and could for possibility. Students compare certain and possible sentences, use the modal with the base verb (It might rain), form negatives with might not and may not, make guesses about pictures and situations and talk about their own possible plans. Includes slides, a lesson plan, worksheet, quiz, homework, flashcards, a rubric and answer keys.

Overview

We use might, may and could when something is possible but not certain: It might rain this afternoon. Leo may be at the library. That could be our bus. Each modal is followed by the base form of the verb, with no to and no -s. For negatives, we use might not or may not (It might not rain). Students compare certain sentences (It will rain.) with possible ones, choose correct forms, match situations with sensible guesses and write about their own plans for the weekend. A mystery box game and a weather forecast task give practice in speaking and writing.

Resource Details

Subject: ESL
Topic: Might, May and Could for Possibility
Category: Grammar
File Type: PDF
File Size: 303.7 KB
Published: 12 Nov 2026
Downloads: 0

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Grade 5 ESL (ages 10–11), A2 50 minutes Grammar speaking writing reasoning making predictions

Learning Objectives

Use might, may and could to talk about possibility.
Use the base verb after the modal and form negatives with might not and may not.
Make guesses and talk about possible plans.

How to Use This Resource

Show the slides. Hold up a closed box and ask: "What is in the box?" Model: It might be a ball.
Do worksheet activities 1 and 2 together.
Students complete activities 3 to 6, then use the quiz and send the homework page home.

Classroom Activity Ideas

Mystery box: students feel an object without looking and guess: It could be a key. It might be a coin.
Weather forecast: students present a forecast for tomorrow using might, may and could.
Weekend plans: students tell a partner two things they might do and one thing they might not do.

Differentiation

Support: give a chart with subject + might/may/could + base verb and a list of verbs. Challenge: students rank sentences from certain to impossible using will, might, might not and won't.

Assessment

Use the worksheet and quiz to check form and meaning. Use the rubric to assess the homework weather forecast and weekend plans.

Teacher Tips

Students often add to (It might to rain) or -s (She may goes). Practice with quick chants: might go, may go, could go. Note that couldn't usually means something is impossible (That couldn't be true), so use might not or may not for a negative possibility.

What's Included

10-page printable PDF lesson pack: teacher lesson plan with timings, materials and differentiation
Key vocabulary list (8 words with meanings and examples)
Student worksheet (6 activities)
Quiz / assessment (3 parts)
Homework practice page
Printable flashcards: 8 A5 picture cards (separate PDF)
Assessment rubric (4 levels)
Lesson slides (editable PowerPoint)
Editable Word version of all student pages
Complete answer key (also as a separate PDF)

Additional Files

Lesson Slides (PPTX)
Editable Student Pages and Lesson Plan (DOCX)
A5 Flashcards (PDF)
Answer Key (PDF)

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