Might and May: Talking About Possibility
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'might' and 'may' to talk about things that are possible but not certain.
- Use 'might' for a smaller chance of something happening: 'It might rain later.'
- Use 'may' for a slightly higher chance or in formal settings: 'We may arrive on time.'
- Never add '-s' to the verb after these modals: 'He might go' (not 'He mights go').
Overview
- It might rain later. (maybe)
- She might come to the party.
- I might be late.
- It may rain later.
- He may not come.
- The meeting may start late.
- It might not rain. (mightn't)
- She may not be home.
- It will rain. (certain — prediction)
- It might rain. (possible — not sure)
- You should see a doctor. (advice)
- You might have a cold. (possibility)
Modal Verb Formation
| Form | Subject | Modal | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
I/You/He/She/It
|
might/may
|
go
|
I might go.
|
|
Negative
|
I/You/He/She/It
|
might/may not
|
go
|
I might not go.
|
|
Question
|
May
|
I/you/he/she/it
|
go
|
May I go?
|
|
Short Answer
|
Yes/No
|
I/you/he/she/it
|
might/may
|
Yes, I might.
|
|
Present Cont.
|
I/You/He/She/It
|
might/may be
|
going
|
I might be going.
|
|
Perfect
|
I/You/He/She/It
|
might/may have
|
gone
|
I might have gone.
|
Contractions
| Full Form | Contraction |
|---|---|
|
might not
|
mightn't
|
|
may not
|
may not (no common contraction)
|
Meanings
These modal verbs express that an event or action is possible, but not guaranteed.
Future Possibility
Something that could happen in the future.
“She might visit us next week.”
“They may call later today.”
Present Uncertainty
Guessing about a situation happening right now.
“Where is John? He may be in the kitchen.”
“She might be sleeping right now.”
Formal Permission
Asking for or giving permission (mostly 'may').
“May I sit here?”
“You may leave the room now.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Sub + might/may + V
|
He might arrive.
|
|
Negative
|
Sub + might/may + not + V
|
He might not arrive.
|
|
Question
|
May + Sub + V?
|
May he arrive?
|
|
Short Answer
|
Yes/No + Sub + might/may
|
Yes, he might.
|
|
Continuous
|
Sub + might/may + be + V-ing
|
He might be arriving.
|
|
Perfect
|
Sub + might/may + have + V-ed
|
He might have arrived.
|
Spectre de formalité
May I enter the office? (Workplace)
Can I come in? (Workplace)
Can I pop in? (Workplace)
Mind if I crash in? (Workplace)
Possibility Spectrum
High
- Will 100%
Medium
- May 50-60%
Low
- Might 30-40%
Exemples par niveau
I might go.
Maybe I will go.
It may rain.
Maybe it will rain.
She might call.
Maybe she will call.
They may come.
Maybe they will come.
I might not finish today.
It is possible I won't finish.
May I sit here?
Is it okay if I sit here?
He may be late.
It is possible he will be late.
We might see them.
It is possible we will see them.
The keys might be in the car.
It is possible they are in the car.
You may find the answer online.
It is possible you will find it.
She might have forgotten.
It is possible she forgot.
They may not want to go.
It is possible they don't want to.
The project might be delayed due to weather.
There is a possibility of delay.
One may conclude that the results are positive.
It is possible to conclude.
I might have been mistaken.
It is possible I was wrong.
May I suggest a different approach?
Is it okay to suggest?
He might well be the best candidate.
It is very possible he is the best.
They may yet change their minds.
It is still possible they will change.
It might have been better to wait.
It is possible that waiting was better.
May you find peace in your journey.
I hope you find peace.
One might venture to say this is a turning point.
It is possible to suggest this.
May it be known that we object.
Let it be known.
He might have been expected to know better.
It is possible he should have known.
May the best team win.
I hope the best team wins.
Facile à confondre
Learners use 'can' for everything.
Learners use 'will' for guesses.
Spelling confusion.
Erreurs courantes
He mights go.
He might go.
I might to go.
I might go.
May I to sit?
May I sit?
She mays come.
She may come.
Might I to ask?
May I ask?
It mights be cold.
It might be cold.
I may not to go.
I may not go.
I might have went.
I might have gone.
He might be go.
He might go.
May I can go?
May I go?
It might have been happen.
It might have happened.
He may well to win.
He may well win.
Might you help me?
Could you help me?
Structures de phrases
I might ___ later.
May I ___?
It might be ___.
They may have ___.
Real World Usage
I might be late.
I may be able to start Monday.
We might visit the museum.
Might go to the beach!
The driver may be delayed.
This may suggest a correlation.
Might = not sure
Smart Tips
Use 'might' to keep your options open.
Use 'may' to sound polite and professional.
Use 'might be' + adjective/noun.
Use 'May I' for requests.
Prononciation
Weak form
In fast speech, 'might' is often unstressed.
Linking
Might + I becomes 'might-eye'.
Rising
May I go? ↗
Polite request.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Might is a mite (small) bit less certain than May.
Association visuelle
Imagine 'May' as a bright sun (more likely) and 'Might' as a tiny, flickering candle (less likely).
Rhyme
If you are not sure, use might or may, to describe the things that happen today.
Story
Sarah looked at the sky. 'It might rain,' she said, looking at a small cloud. Then she saw a big dark cloud. 'It may storm,' she added. She stayed inside.
Word Web
Défi
Write 5 sentences about your plans for tomorrow using 'might' or 'may'.
Notes culturelles
Might is used very frequently, often to soften statements.
May is often reserved for very formal or legal contexts.
Both are used to show caution in research findings.
Both words come from Old English 'magan', meaning 'to be able'.
Amorces de conversation
What might you do this weekend?
May I ask you a personal question?
What might happen if you win the lottery?
How might the world change in 50 years?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
I ___ go to the store later.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
She may to arrive soon.
I may sit here.
Might and may change for he/she/it.
A: Will you come? B: I ___.
not / might / I / go
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesI ___ go to the store later.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
She may to arrive soon.
I may sit here.
Might and may change for he/she/it.
A: Will you come? B: I ___.
not / might / I / go
Might
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
Yes, in most casual contexts, they mean the same thing.
Modal verbs are special and don't conjugate for the third person.
Historically yes, but in modern English, it is a present/future modal.
Use it for formal permission or when you want to sound more professional.
Just add 'not' after the modal: 'might not' or 'may not'.
Yes, use 'might have' + past participle: 'I might have forgotten'.
Actually, 'may' is usually considered more formal.
Use 'may' for requests, but avoid 'might' as it sounds unnatural.
Scaffolded Practice
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Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Poder
English uses distinct modals for possibility.
Pouvoir
English is more specific.
Vielleicht / Mögen
German prefers adverbs over modals.
Kamoshirenai
English uses a modal before the verb.
Rubbama
Arabic uses particles, not modals.
Keneng
Chinese does not conjugate verbs.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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