Modal Verbs | May and Might

Hello there! Building on our previous discussions about modal verbs, let’s dive into two more: May and Might.

As we’ve established, modal verbs (also known as modal auxiliaries) are special types of auxiliary verbs [Previous Conversation, 497, 513, 519, 681]. A key characteristic is that they are non-tensed auxiliaries [Previous Conversation, 498, 513, 519, 681]. This means they do not inherently indicate tense on their own, nor do they take inflections like ‘-ing’, ‘-es’, or ‘-ed’. They are used to express various modalities such as likelihood, ability, request, capacity, suggestion, obligation, or advice [Previous Conversation, 481, 497, 683]. It’s also important to remember that modal auxiliaries like ‘could’, ‘might’, ‘should’, and ‘would’ are independent modal auxiliaries and are not simply the past forms of ‘can’, ‘may’, ‘shall’, or ‘will’.

Let’s break down ‘May’ and ‘Might’ with ease!

1. May 🌸

The core meaning of ‘may’ is possibility.

• Possibility (often with a sense of politeness or uncertainty):

  • It indicates that something is possible, but not certain.
  • Grammatically, ‘may’ expresses the possibility of occurrence or non-occurrence (e.g., “The delivery may be delayed” means it may or may not be delayed).
  • Pragmatically (in social use), ‘may’ is often used politely to inform about a delay or a possibility, even when the speaker might have some certainty about the event.
    • Example: “The delivery may be delayed.” (Literally, it’s possible it will be delayed or not. Pragmatically, it’s a polite way of saying it will probably be delayed).
    • Example: “They may call us tomorrow.” (Means they may or may not call).

• Permission (in a formal setting): 🙏

  • ‘May’ is used to ask for or give permission, primarily in formal contexts.
  • It adds a sense of politeness and can highlight a difference in social power or hierarchy. When you reduce your own ability to do something, it makes the context more formal and shows a sense of surrender or total dependence.
    • Example: “May I take a tea break?” (Formal request for permission).
    • Example: “You may carry your handbags inside the room.” (Polite permission given).
  • Comparison with ‘Can’: While ‘can’ can also be used for permission, ‘can’ embeds an interpretation of demonstrating ability (e.g., “I can run”), making it less formal. ‘May’ removes this sense of capability or authority, making it more formal.

• Concession: ✅

  • ‘May’ can also be used to acknowledge the possibility of an event and its relevance.
    • Example: “The school may be open on Sunday, but children will not go.” (Acknowledges the possibility of the school being open for other reasons).
    • Example: “He may be a child, but he is very wise.”.

2. Might 🤷‍♀️

‘Might’ is an independent modal auxiliary and is not the past tense form of ‘may’.

• Possibility (indicating weaker or remote possibility): 📉

  • Like ‘may’, ‘might’ also indicates possibility and permission, but it specifically suggests a weaker or more remote possibility. It leans more towards uncertainty than certainty.
  • This can include hypothetical or totally unreal interpretations.
    • Example: “The bus might be late.” (Implies a weaker chance of being late than if ‘may’ were used).
    • Example: “She is a bright student, so she might become successful in life.” (Indicates a remote possibility; the chance is low).
    • Example: “He might have been successful in his career, had he listened to his boss.” (Refers to a past possibility that did not happen).

• Permission (indicating even less likely or less relevant situations): 🙏 (but even more tentative)

  • While technically possible for permission, its use in this context would imply a very remote or less likely scenario, making it much more tentative than ‘may’.

• Concession (for less likely or less relevant situations):

  • This project might happen, but we are not going to talk about it now." (Indicates a very low chance of the event occurring, almost impossible).

Key Distinctions Summary 🔑

• May: Used for possibility (general or polite acknowledgement of uncertainty) and formal permission. It talks about recent possibilities.
• Might: Used for weaker or remote possibilities and leans towards uncertainty. It is not the past tense of ‘may’.

Practice Questions 📝

Choose the most appropriate modal verb (‘may’ or ‘might’) for each sentence.

1. I haven’t heard from John all day. He _______ be busy with his new project. 🤔
2. The doctor said I _______ leave the hospital tomorrow, if my condition improves. 🏥
3. If you don’t study for the exam, you _______ fail. 😬
4. The CEO _______ attend the meeting, but it’s a very weak possibility given his schedule. 🏢
5. _______ I come in? I have an urgent matter to discuss. (Formal context) 🗣️
6. Living in a big city _______ cost a fortune. 💰
7. She _______ not like the surprise party; she prefers quiet evenings. 🎉

Solutions ✅

1. I haven’t heard from John all day. He might be busy with his new project. 🤔 (Indicates a deduction based on limited information, a possibility that is not strong).
2. The doctor said I may leave the hospital tomorrow, if my condition improves. 🏥 (Giving permission or stating a clear possibility based on a condition).
3. If you don’t study for the exam, you could fail. 😬 (The source specifically uses ‘could’ for future possibility in this context, although ‘might’ can also be used for possibility, ‘could’ is directly cited here).
4. The CEO might attend the meeting, but it’s a very weak possibility given his schedule. 🏢 (Emphasizes a very remote or weak possibility).
5. May I come in? I have an urgent matter to discuss. 🗣️ (Formal request for permission).
6. Living in a big city can cost a fortune. 💰 (The source uses ‘can’ for general possibilities, indicating what is generally possible in the world. While ‘may’ or ‘might’ are for possibility, ‘can’ is the most appropriate for general possibilities as per the sources).
7. She might not like the surprise party; she prefers quiet evenings. 🎉 (Expresses a weaker possibility or uncertainty about her reaction).