May and Might


 
 
Concept Explanation
 

May and Might

May and Might:

Use of May

1. To show or ask for permission. e.g.

       May I borrow two books from the library?

2. May is also used for informal request. e.g.

        May I have the salt please?

3. May and Might for present or future possibility : We can use either to express present or future possibility, but use of might slightly increases the doubt or uncertainity. e.g.

    (a) The sky is cloudly, it may rain today.

    (b) The sky is not cloudy but a change in weather is always possible and therefore, it might rain today. (remote possibility).

Use of Might:

1. The use of might for request expresses more politeness, hesitation or lack of confidence of the  speaker. e.g.

       Might I borrow your golden necklace?

2. Might is past equivalent of may. While transforming a sentence from direct to indirect narration, may is changed to might with reporting verbs in past. e.g.

            He asked if he might come in.

3. Use of may or might in perfect tense: May is used when you are not certain about a past action. When the uncertainity  no longer exists in the present (i.e. something did not happen but it was possible) then only might is used in perfect  tense, e.g.

    (a) He may have been wounded. ( We do not know so far, but he is perhaps injured , possibility  exists)

    (b) He might have been wounded. ( That was a probability in the past but he was not wounded).

4. Might (not may) is used in conditional sentences when the expression is introduced by a verb in the past tense. e.g.

If you invited her, she might attend the party.

Sample Questions
(More Questions for each concept available in Login)
Question : 1

Fill the blank part with correct modal .

1. Shivani ___________  failed the exam because she was sick.

2. It ___________ rain later on. We’d better take an umbrella.

3. Mr Hunt is late. He _____________  missed his train.

Right Option : A
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Explanation
Question : 2

Fill the blank part with correct modal .

1. Do you think the company _____________ hire more people next year ?

2. We ___________ go out later. I’m not sure.

3. Tom ___________ win this game. He’s been playing very well recently.

Right Option : C
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Explanation
Question : 3

Fill the blank part with correct modal .

1. She ___________ not come to the meeting.

2. He ________ be waiting for us.

Right Option : A
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Explanation
 
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