Module 3: Health and Environment
Summary: Smoking and Health
Key points
- Smoking damages the lungs, the heart and the teeth; smokers are addicted to nicotine.
- Passive smoking (breathing other people’s smoke) is harmful, especially for children.
- Smoking is prohibited in many public places.
- Pesticides and dumped waste can make food and water contaminated.
- To give up = to stop a habit; to disapprove of = to think something is wrong.
Rules to remember
may / might / could + base verb
Possibility (perhaps): Smoking may cause cancer. You might lose your teeth. Dirty water could make you ill.
Degree of certainty
will (sure) > may (possible) > might / could (less sure) > won’t (impossible).
Negative
may not / might not + base verb: He might not give up.
No -s, no to
He may smoke — never he mays or may to smoke.
How to do it
- Think of an action and its possible result.
- Choose may (quite possible) or might / could (less sure).
- Add the base verb: may + get, might + lose.
Example
If you eat contaminated fish, you might get a bad stomachache.
Common mistakes
- ❌ He mays get ill. ➡️ ✅ He may get ill.
- ❌ You might to lose your teeth. ➡️ ✅ You might lose your teeth.
- ❌ I disapprove smoking. ➡️ ✅ I disapprove of smoking.
Key words
Summary written by سكولار for quick revision: it does not replace the lesson and its exercises.