May vs. Might — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 3, 2023
"May" and "Might" are both modal verbs expressing possibility. "May" suggests a higher likelihood, while "Might" indicates a more uncertain or slight chance.
Difference Between May and Might
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
May and Might are both modal auxiliary verbs used in English, with each having a subtle difference in their application. While May often indicates a higher level of probability, Might suggests a lower level of certainty. For instance, "He may come to the party" implies a stronger chance than "He might come to the party."
The word May is frequently used to seek or grant permission. When someone asks, "May I use your phone?", they're seeking consent. Might, on the other hand, doesn't serve this purpose. Instead, it's more commonly used to suggest a hypothetical or counterfactual scenario: "If he had known, he might have come earlier."
In past-tense situations, the distinction between May and Might becomes even more nuanced. While May has its own past form, it's Might that is generally employed to indicate past possibility. For example, "I thought he might visit" indicates a past uncertainty.
Moreover, while both May and Might can express future possibilities, Might offers a tone of greater tentativeness or politeness. Consider the difference between "It may rain tomorrow" (a simple future possibility) and "It might rain tomorrow" (a slightly less certain prediction).
In summary, while May and Might can sometimes be used interchangeably, they often carry different connotations, with May typically indicating a greater degree of certainty or permission, and Might suggesting a lesser degree of probability or a past hypothetical.
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Comparison Chart
Probability
Higher
Lower
Permission
Common (e.g., May I go?)
Not used for permission
Past Possibility
Has its own past form
Commonly used for past possibility
Tentativeness/Politeness
Less tentative
More tentative
Hypotheticals
Less common
More common (e.g., might have been)
Compare with Definitions
May
Indicating a wish or hope
May you live long.
Might
Making polite requests
Might I borrow this book?
May
Describing a purpose or reason
He studies hard so that he may pass.
Might
Indicating lesser possibility
It might snow in July, but it's unlikely.
May
Stating a fact in old literary contexts
As the saying goes, 'What may come, will come.'
Might
Suggesting hypotheticals
If you tried harder, you might succeed.
May
May is the fifth month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and the third of seven months to have a length of 31 days. May is a month of spring in the Northern Hemisphere and autumn in the Southern Hemisphere.
Might
Expressing repeated actions in the past
When he was young, he might walk for hours.
May
Expressing possibility
That may be true
He may well win
Might
Past of may
May
Used to ask for or to give permission
May I ask a few questions?
You may confirm my identity with your Case Officer, if you wish
Might
Used tentatively to ask permission or to express a polite request
Might I just ask one question?
You might just call me Jane, if you don't mind
May
Expressing a wish or hope
May she rest in peace
Might
Used to express possibility or make a suggestion
This might be true
You might try pain relievers
May
The fifth month of the year, in the northern hemisphere usually considered the last month of spring
The full system was deployed last May
The new model makes its showroom debut in May
Might
Great and impressive power or strength, especially of a nation, large organization, or natural force
A convincing display of military might
May
A hawthorn or its blossoms.
Might
Great power or force, as of a nation or army.
May
The fifth month of the year in the Gregorian calendar. See Table at calendar.
Might
Physical strength
Push with all your might!.
May
The springtime of life; youth.
Might
Power, strength, force or influence held by a person or group.
May
The celebration of May Day.
Might
(uncountable) Physical strength or force.
He pushed with all his might, but still it would not move.
May
To be strong; to have power (over).
Might
(uncountable) The ability to do something.
May
To be able; can.
Might
(obsolete) Mighty; powerful.
May
To be able to go.
Might
(obsolete) Possible.
May
To have permission to, be allowed. Used in granting permission and in questions to make polite requests.
You may smoke outside;
May I sit there?
Might
(auxiliary) Used to indicate conditional or possible actions.
I might go to the party, but I haven't decided yet.
May
Expressing a present possibility; possibly.
He may be lying;
Schrödinger's cat may or may not be in the box
Might
(auxiliary) may Used to indicate permission in past tense.
He asked me if he might go to the party, but I haven't decided yet.
May
Expressing a wish (with present subjunctive effect).
May you win;
May the weather be sunny
Might
(auxiliary) may Used to indicate possibility in past tense.
I thought that I might go the next day.
May
Used in modesty, courtesy, or concession, or to soften a question or remark.
Might
Used to indicate a desired past action that was not done.
Hey man, you might have warned me about the thunderstorm.
May
To gather may, or flowers in general.
Might
(auxiliary) Even though.
I might be in a wheelchair, but I still want to be treated as a lady.
May
To celebrate May Day.
Might
(auxiliary) Used in polite requests for permission
Might I take the last biscuit?
May
The hawthorn bush or its blossoms.
Might
Used to express certainty.
Yeah, I think we might need something a bit sturdier.
May
(archaic) A maiden.
Might
Force or power of any kind, whether of body or mind; energy or intensity of purpose, feeling, or action; means or resources to effect an object; strength; force; power; ability; capacity.
What so strong,But wanting rest, will also want of might?
Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might.
May
An auxiliary verb qualifying the meaning of another verb,
How may a man, said he, with idle speech,Be won to spoil the castle of his health!
For what he [the king] may do is of two kinds; what he may do as just, and what he may do as possible.
For of all sad words of tongue or penThe saddest are these: "It might have been."
Might
Physical strength
May
Liberty; permission; allowance.
Thou mayst be no longer steward.
Might
Expressing past possibility
He might have attended the concert, but I'm not sure.
May
Contingency or liability; possibility or probability.
Though what he learns he speaks, and may advanceSome general maxims, or be right by chance.
May
Modesty, courtesy, or concession, or a desire to soften a question or remark.
How old may Phillis be, you ask.
May
Desire or wish, as in prayer, imprecation, benediction, and the like.
May
A maiden.
May
The fifth month of the year, containing thirty-one days.
May
The early part or springtime of life.
His May of youth, and bloom of lustihood.
May
The flowers of the hawthorn; - so called from their time of blossoming; also, the hawthorn.
The palm and may make country houses gay.
Plumes that mocked the may.
May
The merrymaking of May Day.
May
The month following April and preceding June
May
Thorny Eurasian shrub of small tree having dense clusters of white to scarlet flowers followed by deep red berries; established as an escape in eastern North America
May
Seeking permission
May I leave early?
Common Curiosities
Is May used for granting permission?
Yes, e.g., "You may enter now."
Can May and Might be used interchangeably?
Sometimes, but they often have different connotations of probability.
Can Might be used for hypotheticals?
Yes, e.g., "He might have won if he tried."
Is Might a past form of May?
Yes, especially when indicating past possibility.
Is May used in expressing wishes?
Yes, as in "May your days be merry."
How do I use May in the negative form?
"May not" or "mayn't" though the latter is rare.
Can Might express uncertainty?
Yes, it often indicates a lesser degree of certainty.
Can Might be used for polite requests?
Yes, e.g., "Might I ask a question?"
Which suggests a higher possibility, May or Might?
May often indicates a higher possibility.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
