may / might

[Green_soul]

Hello ev'ry 1

I can't find what the difference is.

When should I use one or another?

If you could help me, thanks in advance!

If any mistakes, correct'em, please!

Cya!!!

 

[sperdomo]

Hola

May and might can be used for prediction, permission, advice, or logical probability.

Permission
Only may is commonly used in American English to ask permission.

May I go to the store?
May I sit down?
Can I sit down? -----much less formal
Might I sit down? ---This can be found in books, but is rare in conversation, at least in my dialect of American English.

Prediction
It will rain --- strongest prediction
It may rain --- less sure
It might/could rain. ---slightly less sure (although native speakers will probably argue about which is weaker, may, might, or could)

Possibility
Someone's knocking at the door..
It must be Mary ---strong possibility
It should be Mary-- less strong
It may be Mary --less strong
It might/could be Mary --weakest

Advice
Might can be used to give polite advice but not may
You must revise this ---strong and demanding
You should revise this ---less strong
You might revise this ---very weak advice
You may marry him -- doesn't imply advice...gives permission

To make things more complicated, there are some shifts in meaning in the negative and not all of these forms can be made into questions, for example, Might you revise this? or May it be Mary? Both are awkward. Let me know if you want all of those rules too. I assume you don't! Good luck!
Susan

 

[te gato]

Hi Green Soul'

Might is an auxiliary verb and the past tense of May....

may1 (m

)
aux.v. Past tense might (m

t)

1. To be allowed or permitted to: May I take a swim? Yes, you may.
2. Used to indicate a certain measure of likelihood or possibility: It may rain this afternoon.
3. Used to express a desire or fervent wish: Long may he live!
4. Used to express contingency, purpose, or result in clauses introduced by that or so that: expressing ideas so that the average person may understand.
5. To be obliged; must. Used in statutes, deeds, and other legal documents. See Usage Note at can1.

might2 (m

t)
aux.v. Past tense of may

1. 1. <LI type=a>Used to indicate a condition or state contrary to fact: She might help if she knew the truth.
   2. Used to indicate a possibility or probability that is weaker than may: We might discover a pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
2. Used to express possibility or probability or permission in the past: She told him yesterday he might not go on the trip.
3. Used to express a higher degree of deference or politeness than may, ought, or should: Might I express my opinion?

te gato

 

[Green_soul]

Hi Susan (sperdomo)
Thanks a lot for your reply!!! It is very clear and complete.

I'd like to know the question rules as well.
Take care!!!

 

[charmedboi82]

Hola

May and might can be used for prediction, permission, advice, or logical probability.

Permission
Only may is commonly used in American English to ask permission.

May I go to the store?
May I sit down?
Can I sit down? -----much less formal
Might I sit down? ---This can be found in books, but is rare in conversation, at least in my dialect of American English.

Prediction
It will rain --- strongest prediction
It may rain --- less sure
It might/could rain. ---slightly less sure (although native speakers will probably argue about which is weaker, may, might, or could)

Possibility
Someone's knocking at the door..
It must be Mary ---strong possibility
It should be Mary-- less strong
It may be Mary --less strong
It might/could be Mary --weakest

Advice
Might can be used to give polite advice but not may
You must revise this ---strong and demanding
You should revise this ---less strong
You might revise this ---very weak advice
You may marry him -- doesn't imply advice...gives permission

To make things more complicated, there are some shifts in meaning in the negative and not all of these forms can be made into questions, for example, Might you revise this? or May it be Mary? Both are awkward. Let me know if you want all of those rules too. I assume you don't! Good luck!
Susan

I agree with most of this, but I think you can use 'might' to ask for permission. Granted, I do realize many people do not use it in that way, but I've heard and also use it from time to time.

As far as may/might with respect to which one gives a stronger idea of probability, I would say it depends on the region and each individual speaker. It also depends on the tone of voice.

Keep up the great work!

 

[y0li]

Hi everyone!!
i´m new and my english isn´t good , but i think i can help.

• May , in spanish means "puede".

Ex :This may be possible-> esto puede ser posible

• Might , means "podría" very similar than could.

Ex:-This might be possible-> esto podría ser posible.

As they had said may is more possible than might.

I hope this can help you.

yol.