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c) in object, predicative and appositive clauses after verbs or nouns expressing hope, wish, fear:
The doctor has fears that she may not live much longer.
The prisoner had hopes that he might be set free.
Here are some expressions with the modal verb may/might:
I may/might as well + infinitive — is a very mild and unemphatic way of expressing an intention.
I may as well take you with me.
It can be used with other persons to suggest or recommend an action.
You may as well give him the letter.
Might just as well means “it would be equally good to” and is used to suggest alternative actions. Though
the meaning is basically the same as in three previous sentences, “just” makes the sentence more emphatic.
- I’ll go on Monday by a slow train.
- You might just as well wait till Tuesday and go by the fast one.
- I’ll do it at six.
- That’s far too late. You might just as well not do it at all.
Must
§ 156. The modal verb must has only one form for the present tense. It may also be used in reported speech,
after the verb in the past tense in the principal clause.
I knew I must go there too.
I. Must followed by the non-perfect common infinitive may express:
1. Immediate obligation or necessity, or an obligation referring to the future. This meaning occurs in
positive statements and questions.
We must begin before five, or we shan’t finish in time for our supper.
He must move the furniture himself. I can’t help him.
Must you really go so soon?
In this sense the verb must corresponds to the Russian надо, нужно, должен.
Do it if you must (если нужно, делайте).
I must go now (мне нужно идти).
Must expresses obligation or compulsion from the speaker’s viewpoint (unlike ‘have to’, which involves
some other authority than the speaker, such as official regulations, etc.).
You must be back at 2 o’clock. I want you to do some cooking.
You must call me Sir (I like it that way).
Obligations expressed by must refer to the present or future, in reported speech they may refer to the past.
James said we must invite the Stewarts to dinner.
Future obligations can be made more precise with the future indefinite of the verb have to.