Might and May | B1 Modal Verbs

1. Overview & Concept

What is it? Might and may are modal verbs used to express possibility in the present or future. They indicate that something is uncertain — it could happen, but it is not guaranteed.
Purpose: To speculate about present or future situations, make tentative suggestions, and express uncertainty politely.
Key idea: Neither might nor may makes a strong claim. The speaker is saying "there is a chance, but I am not sure."

Form	Structure	Example
Affirmative (present/future)	Subject + might/may + base verb	She might come to the party.
Negative	Subject + might not / may not + base verb	He might not be home.
Question (rare)	May + subject + base verb?	May I help you?
Past possibility	Subject + might/may have + past participle	They may have missed the train.

Note: Contractions mightn't and mayn't exist but are uncommon in modern English. Prefer might not and may not.

Rule 1 — Possibility (present/future): Use might or may when you think something is possible but are not certain.
It might rain later — bring an umbrella.
She may arrive before noon.
Rule 2 — Permission (formal, may only): May (not might) is used in formal contexts to ask for or grant permission.
May I use your phone? (formal request)
You may leave the room now. (formal permission)
In everyday speech, can or could are more common for permission.
Rule 3 — Tentative suggestions: Might is softer and more tentative than may in suggestions.
You might want to try the other restaurant.
It might be a good idea to call first.
Rule 4 — Past possibility (might/may have): To speculate about something that possibly happened in the past.
He might have forgotten the meeting.
They may have already left.
Rule 5 — Negative possibility: Might not = it is possible that … not. This is NOT the same as must not (prohibition).
She might not know the answer. (= Perhaps she doesn't know.)

Signal	Example
perhaps, maybe	Maybe he might call tonight.
possibly	It may possibly snow.
I'm not sure	I'm not sure — she might be busy.
I think	I think they might agree.
probably / probably not	She may probably be late. (use sparingly)

Mistake	Correction	Explanation
She mights go.	She might go.	Modals never add -s for third person singular.
They might to leave.	They might leave.	No to after a modal verb.
May he be there?	Might he be there? / Do you think he is there?	May questions for possibility sound very formal/archaic.
She might not go = she is not allowed	She must not go	Might not = possibility; must not = prohibition.
He might have go.	He might have gone.	After might have, use the past participle, not base form.

Modal	Meaning	Formality	Example
may	possibility	neutral–formal	It may rain.
might	possibility (slightly less certain)	neutral	It might rain.
may	permission	formal	May I come in?
might not	possible absence	neutral	She might not come.
may not	possible absence	neutral–formal	He may not be ready.
might have + pp	past possibility	neutral	They might have left.