Probability (1)

may / might / could / must / should / could well be / may just be

1. Modals of probability.

Her anxiety could be well founded.
Her clinginess may be based on her very real fear.

Could, may and might all express the idea that a situation is possible, but not certain. Compare:

Her anxiety is well founded.
Her clinginess is based on her very real fear.

Make these statements less certain, using the word that is given. Do not use more than three words.

2. Giving advice using modals of probability.

It may be time to rethink your priorities.
You might even consider stopping work entirely.
Perhaps you could shift the family dinnertime.

May, might and could can be used to “soften” advice. They are less direct than must or should. Compare:

You must/should re-think your possibilities.
You must/should consider stopping work entirely.
You must/should shift the family dinnertime.

Often may and might combine with verbs that express volition or necessity:

You may want to consider ways that...
You may need to face up to the fact that...

Put the words in order to make sentences offering advice indirectly.

3. Modals + well/just.

You could well be making the problem worse.
It may just be a natural stage in the process.

Use well with could, may and might to make the possibility stronger.
Use just with could, may and might to make the possibility weaker.

Choose either well or just to strengthen or weaken the possibility.