This lesson explores advanced uses of the modal verbs may and might. You will learn subtle differences in probability, how to make inferences about the past, formal permission, reported speech, conditional uses, and concession patterns.
Distinguish present/future possibility vs past possibility (may/might have + past participle).
Understand how may changes to might in reported speech.
Use may for formal permission and might for hypothetical or lower-probability situations.
Recognize concession and conditional uses with may/might.
Table
May and Might: Uses & Examples
Use
Form
Example
Present / future possibility
may / might + base verb
She may arrive at 3 PM.
Past possibility / inference
may / might + have + past participle
They might have missed the call.
Permission (formal)
may + base verb
May I take a day off next week?
Reported speech (past of may)
may → might in reported speech
She said she might join the meeting.
Conditional / hypothetical
might + base verb (often in conditionals)
If we had more time, we might expand the project.
Concession
may + base verb (contrasts with main clause)
He may be inexperienced, but he's eager to learn.
Tip
Key rule — verbs and time reference
Remember the verb forms and time references when you choose may or might:
Use may/might + base verb for present or future possibilities: It may rain tomorrow.
Use may/might + have + past participle for speculation about the past: She might have missed the meeting.
Use may for formal permission (May I...?) and might for polite or tentative suggestions.
In reported speech, may often becomes might after a past reporting verb: He said he might come.
Think: base verb = present/future, perfect infinitive (have + past participle) = past inference.
Example
Examples in context
The candidate may accept the offer by Friday.
She might have missed the meeting due to traffic.
You may take an earlier flight if your manager approves.
He said he might join the conference call later.
Tip
Common Mistakes to avoid
Watch out for these universal errors with may and might:
Using double modals (e.g., *should may*, *could might*).
Mixing modal + to (incorrect: *may to go*, *might to come*).
Confusing permission with possibility (e.g., using may when asking informally where 'can' or 'could' is more natural).
Using 'have' without a past participle (incorrect: *may have went*).
Ignoring time reference: choosing may/might without checking whether you mean past inference or present/future possibility.
These errors are grammatical; focus on form (base vs have + past participle) and on whether you mean permission, speculation, or reported speech.
Quiz
Choose the sentence that best expresses a past possibility:
Hint: Think about whether the event already happened.
Correct!
The structure 'may/might have + past participle' indicates a possibility about a past event; 'may have finished' suggests she possibly finished already.
Incorrect
The correct answer was: She may have finished the report.
The structure 'may/might have + past participle' indicates a possibility about a past event; 'may have finished' suggests she possibly finished already.
Quiz
Complete: _____ I use your laptop for a moment?
Hint: Consider a formal way to ask for permission.
Correct!
'May' is used to ask for formal permission. In polite/formal contexts, 'May I...?' is preferred.
Incorrect
The correct answer was: May
'May' is used to ask for formal permission. In polite/formal contexts, 'May I...?' is preferred.
Quiz
Which sentence correctly reports permission given in the past?
Hint: Think about how modals change in reported speech after a past verb.
Correct!
When reporting permission or possibility after a past reporting verb, may often becomes might. 'She said I might leave' correctly reports past permission.
Incorrect
The correct answer was: She said I might leave early.
When reporting permission or possibility after a past reporting verb, may often becomes might. 'She said I might leave' correctly reports past permission.
Key Points
GrammarPoint
may
modal verbCEFR B1//meɪ//
Used to express possibility, permission, or a polite request.
You may start the presentation now.
GrammarPoint
might
modal verbCEFR B2//maɪt//
Used to express a weaker possibility, hypothetical situations, or as the past form of may in reported speech.
We might postpone the meeting if key members are absent.