Using May and Might - Basic English Grammar Lesson
In this video podcast Rachna brings out the basic difference between the common expressions May and Might,
Students often get confused while using these expressions, Rachna explains the correct usage of May and Might with the help of example sentence for better understanding.
May
We can use 'may' to ask for permission. However this is rather formal and not used very often in modern spoken English.
May I leave now?
May I borrow your dictionary?
May we think about it until tomorrow?
We use 'may' to suggest something is possible.
Philip may come to stay with us
I may not have time to do it straightaway.
It may snow later today.
Might
We use 'might' to suggest a small possibility of something. Often we read that 'might' suggests a smaller possibility that 'may', there is in fact little difference and 'might is more usual than 'may' in spoken English.
It might rain this afternoon.
She might be at home by now but it's not sure at all.
I might not have time to go to the shops for you.
I might not go.
For the past, we use 'might have'.
He might have tried to call you while you were out.
I might have left it in the taxi.
In this video podcast Rachna brings out the basic difference between the common expressions May and Might,
Students often get confused while using these expressions, Rachna explains the correct usage of May and Might with the help of example sentence for better understanding.
May
We can use 'may' to ask for permission. However this is rather formal and not used very often in modern spoken English.
May I leave now?
May I borrow your dictionary?
May we think about it until tomorrow?
We use 'may' to suggest something is possible.
Philip may come to stay with us
I may not have time to do it straightaway.
It may snow later today.
Might
We use 'might' to suggest a small possibility of something. Often we read that 'might' suggests a smaller possibility that 'may', there is in fact little difference and 'might is more usual than 'may' in spoken English.
It might rain this afternoon.
She might be at home by now but it's not sure at all.
I might not have time to go to the shops for you.
I might not go.
For the past, we use 'might have'.
He might have tried to call you while you were out.
I might have left it in the taxi.
