What is tthe different between "May" and "Might"?

Question

When I can use May... and When I can Use Might

Answer 1

May is used:

1. for a formal wish "May your life be filled with happiness";

2. to give or ask permission: May I be excused? You may now turn your cell phones on. Although in speech in the USA this is more commonly said with "can" rather than "may".

3. As a form of the present subjunctive. "I may help you if you give me a chance."

Might is used:

1. As an even more polite or formal way of asking permission: Might you be available on the 15th?

2. As a projection of something that is possible to occur in the future: They might come or they might not. You might succeed if you follow the right course.

3. As a form of the past subjunctive (usually with "have of had" after it). I might have helped you if given the chance.

Others no doubt will offer more suggestions.

Answer 2

The first thing to know is that M A Y and M I G H T are 2 of the 11 English Modals.

It is almost impossible to understand English without understanding Modals - but because they don't exist in Spanish that can be difficult.

I will put a link here to an earlier thread I made about all the Modals with examples in English and the equivalents in Spanish.

This is the link

The main difference is that may should be used in connectiion with permission

"May I have your autograph?"

and

might is used in connection with possibilty.

"It might rain tomorrow"

Answer 3

Use 'may' (may not) or 'might' (might not) to say that something is a possibility. The only difference I know between those two is that you have to use 'might' (not may) when the situation is not real,

• If I had more time now, I might try to write a better answer. (The situation is not real because I don't have time right now, so 'may' is not possible in that example).

I don't know any other situation where 'might' and 'may' aren't interchangeable.

This is a very subtle difference, but very much on point. Excellent. - gringojrf, Sep 7, 2013