They have almost the same meaning. One exception is that might is the past tense of may. So you have to use might when you are referring to the past. For example, even if it's likely that John worked yesterday you shouldn't say, John may have have worked; you should say, John might have worked yesterday.
General rule -
Use may when something has a good chance of happening - I may dance tonight.
Use might when something does not have a good chance of happening - I might climb that mountain after work.
5But I'm still unclear [STRIKE]that[/STRIKE] why we use "be" with both may and might? What's "BE"? Why do we use it? Where [STRIKE]it[/STRIKE] has it come from?
Here are some examples:
Talk about May first:
You may come if you wish? Why [STRIKE]we[/STRIKE] didn't we use be with may here?
This coat may be David's[STRIKE]?[/STRIKE] Why [STRIKE]we[/STRIKE] [STRIKE]used[/STRIKE] did we use be with may here?
In the first sentence we are talking about coming (here):
I wish to come.
May I come?
You may come if you wish (to come).
in the second sentence we are talking about 'being (David's)':
This coat is David's.
Perhaps this coat is David's.
This coat may be David's.
The underlined forms are infinitives. May, and other modals, are always followed by the infinitive form of the verb.
They have almost the same meaning. One exception is that might is the past tense of may. So you have to use might when you are referring to the past. For example, even if it's likely that John worked yesterday you shouldn't say, John may have have worked; you should say, John might have worked yesterday.
General rule -
Use may when something has a good chance of happening - I may dance tonight.
Use might when something does not have a good chance of happening - I might climb that mountain after work.
I am very much in favour of KISSing, but 'Keep It Simple' does not mean giving incorrect information.What you write is probably correct but my comments were guided by the OP -
"When/where we use "BE" with "may" and "might"? I'm learning English Language, so please give me answer in easy English with examples as well."
I attempted to keep my response as simple and direct as possible. I doubt if a novice learner could understand what a hypothetical/counterfactual past possibility is. As a rule I adhere to the KISS principal (Keep it simple, silly [or stupid]).
Hello,
When/whe we use "BE" with "may" and "might"? I'm learning English Language, so please give me answer in easy English with examples as well.
Regards,
First if all I'm very thankful to you Sir after giving answer to me after many days.
OK Sir, I've understand that "might" uses for past and "may" uses for present. But I'm still unclear that why we use "be" with both may and might? What's "BE"? Why we use it? Where it has come from?
Here are some examples:
Talk about May first:
You may come if you wish? Why we didn't use be with may here?
This coat may be David's? Why we used be with may here?
How old may she be? Why we used be with may here?
May you both be very happy. Why we used be here again?
Now talk about Might:
Might I suggest another time. Here are we talking about past? Why might came here and why be didn't come here?
That might be our taxi. So is this sentence using past? and why it's not using be with it?
He might just possible have lost his keys. So is this MIGHT talking about past here? and why it's not using be here?
Please explain me all this. I'll be grateful to you.
Regards,
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