May and might: positive sentences
450 fill-in-the-gap exercises, 45 tests of ten
One form for every subject, then the plain verb. May sounds a little more likely than might.
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The pattern
Subject, modal, plain verb. Nothing agrees:
I may go. She may go. They may go.
Where may and might sit among the others
English has a whole ladder of certainty, and these two sit in the middle of it. The table above puts them in order; in practice most people use might and could interchangeably and reserve may for slightly firmer possibilities and for written rules.
Softening a claim
May is the standard hedge in academic and professional writing, where stating something flatly would overclaim:
These results may indicate a seasonal effect.
That is not doubt about the facts — it is caution about the conclusion.
may well
Adding well raises the probability noticeably:
He may well be right. — closer to probably.
may have and might have
The past form says something was possibly true, and you still do not know:
They may have already left.
Might have additionally covers the near miss: You might have broken your arm — you did not, but it was close.
All forms
| How sure | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| certain | will | It will rain. |
| probable | should | It should arrive today. |
| possible | may | It may rain. |
| less likely | might, could | It might rain. |
| deduction | must | It must be raining — look at them. |
Examples
Taken from the 450 sentences in this drill. The answer is highlighted.
- I may have accidentally deleted the file.
- They might stay at a hotel on their vacation.
- She may have missed the bus, that's why she's late.
- He might still be working on his assignment.
- The concert may start at 8 pm, so make sure you arrive on time.
- We might have taken a wrong turn on the way to the museum.
- He may have a surprise for her on her birthday.
- The old bridge might be unsafe for trucks.
- The team may win the game if they play well.
- We might go hiking this weekend if the weather permits.
- We may not be able to find a parking spot near the venue.
- He might have left his phone at home by mistake.
Mistakes to avoid
Wrong: He may to be at home. correct: He may be at home.
No to after a modal.
Wrong: It mights be cold. correct: It might be cold.
Modals never take -s.
Wrong: She might went home. correct: She might have gone home.
For a past possibility the form is might have plus the past participle.