Confusing English Words 5

Question

Some words in English can be confusing for learners.

This one is a bit different - it is to practice the Modals "May" and "Might".

Both native Spanish and English speakers may answer - but write both Spanish and English sentences.

I would appreciate some help in checking the Spanish sentences.

I will "accept" the best effort after about a week

This is not easy. Every attempt will get a vote.

NOTE - we need sentences in both Languages that illustrate how the the following are used.

a) May

b) Might

Futher explanation as to the different meanings may be given

Please do not suggest new word pairs.

Update:

See my explanations below.

Further comments are welcome.

Glad to help if I can, Ian-hill....just let me know what to do! - Janice, Feb 27, 2011

Thanks Janice - it is the Spanish sentences I am not sure about sometimes. - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2011

Oh.. that would be my problem, too, of course. - Janice, Feb 27, 2011

Answer 1

My attempt:

1	There is a strong possibility that rain may fall later this afternoon.	Hay una posibilidad fuerte que la lluvia caiga esta tarde.
2	It might snow later tonight.	Podría nieve luego esta noche.
3	I may go to the party if I am invited.	Vaya a la fiesta si me a invitar.
4	I might go to the party by myself.	Podría ir a la fiesta por mí mismo.

I did each word twice, hope that was okay! - bandit51jd, Feb 27, 2011

http://spanish.about.com/od/specificverbs/a/may.htm This link mentioned using the subjunctive? How far off am I in the Spanish! :) - bandit51jd, Feb 27, 2011

No problem bandit - I am not sure your sentences illustrate the difference between May and Might though. - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2011

And I am no expert on the Spanish subjunctive. - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2011

Why could you not also say in English: There is a strong possibility that rain might fall later this afternoon. - Janice, Feb 27, 2011

Of course you can say that. - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2011

Ian, from my understanding of might, it means a smaller possibility than may. So using strong possibility and might in the same sentence is not correct. - bandit51jd, Feb 27, 2011

My source is http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/maymight/menu.php Are my sentences making sense now or should I study more and repost? :) - bandit51jd, Feb 27, 2011

The real difference bewtween May and Might is not one of "degree" bandit. - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2011

Although can / may / might can be used be used that way too. - ian-hill, Mar 3, 2011

Answer 2

Ian, I'll give this a try. It might be beyond my skills now.

Los niños pueden pasar a la clase ahora.

The children may go to class now.

Puede ser difícil escribir una frase en subjuntivo.

It might be difficult to write a subjunctive sentence.

Los niños se pueden a la clase ahora. Is this correct dogwood? I am not sure. - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2011

I left the word "pasar" out. I'm not sure about the use of "se" in this sentence. Thanks! - 0066c384, Feb 27, 2011

I would use "ir" but what do I know :) - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2011

I hope you don't mind I've edited: se pueden--> pueden, para escribir--> escribir and frase subjuntivo--> frase en subjuntivo. - cogumela, Feb 27, 2011

Thanks Laura - that is the kind of help we need. - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2011

Thanks, Laura. I'm working beyond my skill level as you can see :) - 0066c384, Feb 27, 2011

Answer 3

May all your wishes come true.

(Espero) que todo tus deseos se hagan realidad.

I might like something to eat right now.

Es posible que me gustaria comer algo ahorita

I love the month of May.

Me encanta el mes de mayo.

I shut the window with all my might.

Cerré la ventana con mucha fuerza

Thanks - Very imaginative but some of them are not Modals Jeezle. - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2011

I assumed you were pronouncing model with your British accent. Modal. They are model sentences, if not modal sentences. - jeezzle, Feb 27, 2011

Yeah yeah yeah :):) - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2011

"model" and "modal" are quite different in any English dialect. They can, of course, be confused by someone who is unfamiliar with either word. - samdie, Feb 27, 2011

;) - jeezzle, Feb 27, 2011

Hard to decide how to vote here!! I really like this answer! I will vote for it notwithstanding how much I like nursery rhymes, too! (see the "wish I may, wish I might" entry. - Janice, Feb 28, 2011

Answer 4

"I wish I may, wish I might, make this wish come true tonight."

Deseo que pudiera, deseo que quizás hiciera, que se realizara este deseo esta noche.

Ok ok cut it out Julian :) - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2011

Answer 5

I have no issues with these in englis ,but here we go in spanish!

I may need your help today.

Es posible que necesite tu ayuda hoy.

I might have to change the part.

Voy a tener que cambiar la parte.

Thanks paco but - The "might" is not shown in the Spanish sentence. - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2011

Hum going for a re-check! - pacofinkler, Feb 27, 2011

Boy did I miss that one! - pacofinkler, Feb 27, 2011

Puede que tenga que cambiar la pieza :) - cogumela, Feb 27, 2011

Thanks Laura - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2011

Thanks!!!! - pacofinkler, Feb 27, 2011

Answer 6

May I have a glass of water?

¿Puedo tener un vaso de agua?

Might I trouble you for a glass of water? - This has the same meaning as the first in English, but it's just extra polite.

¿Puedo molestarle para un vaso de agua? --I'm not sure if the Spanish would be different, feel free to correct please.

Thanks Kelly but - Molestarse - Molestarte / le ?? - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2011

Gracias. - lkelly, Feb 27, 2011

The first one: ¿Me da un vaso de agua? The second one: ¿Le importaría darme un vaso de agua? - cogumela, Feb 27, 2011

Hi Laura - I am not sure that is correct. - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2011

Another quick comment - the sentences do not show the real difference between May and Might - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2011

Just wanted to show that they both can mean the same and that 'might' can be used a more polite version of 'may' - lkelly, Feb 27, 2011

That is very true Kelly - ian-hill, Feb 27, 2011

Answer 7

May – Might

May: (puede que, podría, quizá). (casi igual que el might)

Might : (podría, quizá). Se usa para expresar Possibility

These 2 Modals are easily confused and sometimes interchangeable.

May is properly used to ask for permission.

“May I go to the toilet?” Student asking the teacher for permission.

Might is normally use to indicate “possibility”.

“I might do my homework.” There is a possibility I will do my homework.

But

“Might I go to the toilet?” is possible but not very normal.

And

“I may do my home work.” is possible but really means “I have permission to do my homework”

But

May suggests a stronger possibility than Might

Examples

She may be at home. (perhaps a 50% possibility)

She might be at home (less than a 50% possibility)

The weather forecast says it may rain tomorrow and it might even snow.

"At 9am Sarah may be awake. (Possibility)

"At 7am Sarah might be awake. (Lower possibility)

May I go to the cinema? Yes, you may. (Permission)

I may go to the dance with you. (Perhaps I will go to the dance with you)"

"I might go to La Paz or I might go to St. Cruz. (Possibility)

I might feel better if I take the medicine. (It is possible (not probable) I will feel better)

What was that noise? It might have been a bomb. (Past possibility)"

I may finish tomorrow Puede que termine mañana (quizá)

I might finish tomorrow Podría terminar mañana (quizá)

I may not work tomorrow Puede que (yo) no trabaje mañana

I might be resting tomorrow Podría estar descansando mañana

May I use your telephone? ¿Podría usar su teléfono?

Might I use your telephone? ¿Podría usar su teléfono?

You may be wrong (Tú) podrías estar equivocado

You might be wrong (Tú) podrías estar equivocado

Well, this was helpful for me, too! - Janice, Mar 7, 2011