Verbs

May or Might

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We can use 'may' to ask for permission. However this is rather formal and not used very often in modern spoken English

    • May I borrow your pen?
    • May we think about it?
    • May I go now?

We use 'may' to suggest something is possible

    • It may rain later today.
    • I may not have time to do it today.
    • Pete may come with us

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.

    • She might be at home by now but it's not sure at all.
    • It might rain this afternoon.
    • 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 while I was out.
    • I might have dropped it in the street.