hello friends, as you know that 'May' and 'Might' is an auxiliary verb. If you don't know that what is auxiliary verb, I have already published a post about it. You may know about it by clicking (here).
May and Might are auxiliary verbs. The major difference between may and might is that 'may' is used in the sentence of present tense whereas 'might' is used in the sentence of past tense. Besides this, there are also some other differences that we will discuss in this post. Firstly, I would like to discuss on what is it's meaning and how to use it. So, let's start discuss.
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| Use of May and Might |
MAY
May is an auxiliary verb which is used as complement of verb. It has many different meaning according to use. So, the first rule is :
TO TAKE OR GIVE PERMISSION
May is used to take or give permission to anyone. That means, may express the meaning of permission.
Ex.
(A) : May I go to play?
Ans. : Yes, you may.
(B) : May I go out, Sir?
Ans. : No, you may not.
(C) : May I use your pen
Ans. : Yes, you may.
(D) : May she live with you?
Ans. : Yes, she may live with me.
In the above given examples (A) , (B) , (C) and (D) may has been used to ask/take permission, but in the answer of sentence (A) , (B) , (C) , and (D) , may has been used to give permission.
In these types of sentence may consist the meaning 'be allowed to'.
Ex.
May I go to play?
Am I allowed to go to play?
May I go out, Sir?
Am I allowed to go out, Sir?
May I use your pen?
Am I allowed to use your pen?
May she live with you?
Is she allowed to live with you?
Note : In formal style to give permission or to express permission may is prefer to can, because people mostly use may for permission.
May is also used to show the expression of possibility or uncertainty in a sentence.
Ex.
It may rain tomorrow.
My friend may come today.
His father may beat him.
He may come with me.
This may be true.
In all the given above sentences may refers to possibility or uncertainty.
WISH/PRAY/BLESS/CURSE
May is also used to depict the expression of wish/pray/bless/curse in optative sentence.
Ex.
May you live long!
May God bless you!
May you succeed in first attempt!
May our friendship live long!
May your happiness live long!
UNCERTAINTY/SURPRISE
May is also used to express the sense of uncertainty/surprise in a sentence.
Ex.
How old you may be!
Who may be there!
SUBORDINATE CLAUSE TO SHOW PURPOSE
May is also used in subordinate clause to show the purpose of principle clause. If principle clause is in present tense and subordinate clause starts with that / so that / in order that and expression of purpose comes out then may is used in such types of sentence.
Ex.
I work hard that / so that / in order that I may succeed.
We eat that / so that / in order that we may live.
We obey our teachers and and parents that / so that / in order that we may prosper in our life.
MIGHT
Might is the past form of may. Might is also as popular in English language as may.
IN INDIRECT SPEECH FOR THE PAST FORM OF MAY
Might is used as the past for the may in Indirect Speech.
Ex.
He said to me, "you may go now." (Direct)
He said that I might go then. (Indirect)
He said. "you may come." (Direct)
He said that I might come. (Indirect)
LESS POSSIBILITY
Might is used to express the less possibility in a sentence whereas may is used to show/express the more possibility in a sentence.
Might For Less Possibility. May for More Possibility.
1. It might rain today. 1. It may rain today.
2. He might come any time. 2. He may come any time.
2. He might come any time. 2. He may come any time.
3. She might love me. 3. She may love me.
4. They might come late. 4. They may come late.
Note :
- When there is maximum possibility of being any work then can is used in this sentence.
- To express less possibility than Can, May is used in that sentence.
- To express less possibility than May, Might is used in that sentence.
POLITE REQUEST OR PERMISSION
Might is used to express the polite request/permission in a sentence.
Ex.
Might I use your pen.
You might make a little less noise.
SUPPOSITIONAL SENTENCE
Might is used in suppositional sentence or clause. The sentence or clause starts with I wish, we wish, he wishes, she wishes, as if, as though if only, suppose. This sentence or clause express the incomplete supposition
Ex.
If he worked hard, "He might succeed.
I wish you might have been complete the work.
a
If you had left your luggage there, somebody might have taken away it.
You may also read
Use of 'can' and 'could'
What is auxiliary verb?
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You may also read
Use of 'can' and 'could'
What is auxiliary verb?
What is Gerund?
Know Suffix and Prefix
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