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Lesson planA240 minsNew. New: checked automatically for level, grammar, facts and originality; a teacher's review is still to come. Spotted a mistake? Tell us.
Maybe, Might, Probably: Talking About Possibility
Students learn to use might, may and probably to talk about possible plans and the weather, then write about next weekend.
Might may · Possibility · Weather · Plans
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Plan at a glance
Aims
- Use might / may accurately
- Learn and use 17 words and phrases in 2 sets: The weather, Talking about the future
- Read for detail: A picnic plan
- Writing task: My plans for the weekend
Stages · 40 min
- 5 minLead-in: Pairs talk about weather and share ideas with the class.
- 5 minVocabulary: Ex. 1–2
- 5 minLanguage focus: Go through the grammar notes together and check understanding.
- 10 minControlled practice: Ex. 3–4
- 5 minReading: Ex. 5
- 10 minWriting: Ex. 6
Printables
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Download all (ZIP, 2 PDFs)Grammar notes
might / may + verb
- It's possible, but we're not sure → It might rain later. She may be late.
- Negative: might not / may not → They might not come.
- No 's' and no 'to': She might come (not 'She mights come' or 'might to come').
How sure are you?
- will = I'm sure → It will be sunny.
- probably = I'm quite sure → It'll probably rain.
- might / may / maybe = it's possible → It might rain. Maybe it'll rain.
- probably goes after will but before won't: It'll probably rain. It probably won't rain.
Study tips
- Check tomorrow's forecast and say three sentences with might, probably and maybe.
- Say 'I hope so' / 'I hope not' — not 'I hope yes/no'.
Glossary
- The weather10 items
- Talking about the future7 items
Complete the exercises, then check your answers.
1
Weather words
Choose the correct word.
- a
The ___ is terrible today — rain and wind all day.
- b
It might rain, so put on your ___.
- c
Wear your ___ — it's going to rain all day.
- d
There are a lot of clouds. It's ___ today.
- e
Hold your hat! It's very ___.
- f
The bus is coming ___ — in two minutes.
2
How sure?
Choose the correct word or phrase.
- a
The forecast says 90% rain. It will ___ rain.
- b
I'm not sure. ___ she is at home.
- c
"Is it going to rain at the picnic?" "I hope ___!"
- d
"Is your brother coming to the party?" "I hope ___. I miss him."
- e
___ she's at work. She's not answering her phone.
- f
I'll ___ stay at home tonight. I'm very tired.
3
might, may, will or won't?
Choose the correct words.
- a
I'm not sure, but it ___ snow tonight.
- b
She ___ be late. Her train is often slow.
- c
They might ___ to the beach on Sunday.
- d
Take a coat. It ___ be cold later.
- e
The sky is blue and the forecast says no rain. It ___ rain today.
- f
We ___ go out tonight — we haven't decided.
- g
It'll probably be sunny, but it ___ be windy.
- h
He might not ___ the answer.
4
Find the mistake
One sentence has a mistake. Choose the correct sentence.
- a
Choose the correct sentence.
- b
Choose the correct sentence.
- c
Choose the correct sentence.
- d
Choose the correct sentence.
- e
Choose the correct sentence.
- f
Choose the correct sentence.
- g
Choose the correct sentence.
- h
Choose the correct sentence.
5
Read: A picnic plan
Read the text. Then choose the correct answer.
Lily and Omar want to have a picnic on Saturday. Omar checks the weather forecast. "It's going to be cloudy in the morning," he says, "and it might rain in the afternoon." "Oh no! Maybe we should go on Sunday," says Lily. The forecast for Sunday is better. It will probably be sunny, but it may be windy. "Let's go on Sunday," says Omar. "I'll bring an umbrella — just in case!" "Is it going to rain on Sunday?" asks Lily. "I hope not!"
- a
When did Lily and Omar first want to have a picnic?
- b
What might happen on Saturday afternoon?
- c
What will the weather probably be on Sunday?
- d
What may the weather be on Sunday too?
- e
What is Omar going to bring?
6
Write: My plans for the weekend
Write about your weekend.
Write 6–8 sentences about your plans for next weekend. Which plans are sure? Which are only possible? Use will, probably, might, may and maybe. Word box: forecast · umbrella · raincoat · cloudy · windy · soon · I hope so · I hope not · probably · maybe Example: I'll probably visit my aunt on Saturday. I might go to the cinema on Sunday.
Suggested minimum: 40 words
0 words · aim for at least 40
Spotted a mistake in this lesson?· tell us the exercise and item
Revise with a game
This lesson's own words and questions. Play on your own, or in teams on the classroom screen.
- Step UpAnswer the lesson's questions to climb to the top.
- Pair UpMatch the lesson's words to their meanings against the clock.
- SnapA word and a meaning: do they go together? Answer fast.
- Quiz BoardTeams choose questions worth 100 to 500 points.
- Retro arcadeWord Invaders, Word Snake, Word Maze and Word Crossing: classic arcade games with the lesson's words.
Glossary
The 17 words and phrases this lesson teaches, in 2 sets.
The weather
- forecast
- a report that says what the weather will be like
- sunny
- with a lot of sun
- cloudy
- with a lot of clouds in the sky
- windy
- with a lot of wind
- rain
- water that falls from the sky
- snow
- soft white ice that falls from the sky
- cold
- not warm
- hot
- very warm
- umbrella
- you hold it over your head when it rains
- raincoat
- a coat that keeps you dry in the rain
Talking about the future
- might
- maybe it will happen, but maybe not
- may
- the same as might: it is possible
- probably
- it will very likely happen, but you are not sure
- maybe
- perhaps; it is possible
- soon
- in a short time
- I hope so
- you say this when you want something to happen
- I hope not
- you say this when you don't want something to happen
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