Differences between May vs. Might
| May | Might |
| Indicates a greater degree of possibility or likelihood | Indicates a smaller degree of possibility or likelihood |
| More commonly used to express possibility or permission | More commonly used to express a smaller possibility |
| More likely to be used in the present or future tense | More likely to be used in the past tense |
| More formal | Less formal |
| Used to express a wish or hope | Cannot be used to express a wish or hope |
| Can be used to make a request or offer | Cannot be used to make a request or offer |
| Can be used in the subjunctive mood | Can also be used in the subjunctive mood |
| Used to express a truth or habit | Cannot be used to express a truth or habit |
| Used to express a prediction | Used to express a hypothetical situation |
| Used to indicate a higher level of certainty | Used to indicate a lower level of certainty |
| Mostly used in formal writing | Mostly used in informal writing |
| Example: “May I speak to the manager?” | Example: “She might be able to come to the party.” |
Difference between May and Might | May vs Might
May and Might are modal verbs in English that indicate possibility or permission. While they share similar meanings, there are some differences in their usage. This article will discuss in detail about differences between May and Might.
Difference between May and Might