May vs Might | Meaning & Difference
The modal verbs may and might can be used interchangeably to describe something that will possibly happen (e.g., “I may/might go to the movies tonight, but I haven’t decided yet”) or that is possibly true (e.g., “I think you may/might have a fever”). However, these words are not interchangeable in some other contexts.
- We use may to “grant permission” and may not to “deny permission” (e.g., “You may/may not walk on the grass”).
- We use might have, like “could have,” to make critical statements about the past (e.g., “They might have given us a bit more time to prepare”).
- We typically use may when asking for permission or making a request (e.g., “May I have a glass of water, please?”—using “might” can have an overly formal, old-fashioned effect in these contexts).
- We use may for expressions of desires, hopes, and wishes (e.g., “May all your dreams come true”).
| Function | May in a sentence | Might in a sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Granting/denying permission (synonymous with “can”/“can’t”) |
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| Critical statements about the past (synonymous with “could”) |
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| Asking for permission/making a request |
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| Expressions of desires, hopes and wishes |
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We do, however, use “might” instead of “may” to express “unreal possibility” when describing scenarios that we view as “imaginary/hypothetical,” “contrary to reality” or “not really possible,” for example:
- “I might consider staying here if the rents weren’t so high.” [Imagining if the rents were lower]
- “He might sleep better if he didn’t drink so much coffee!” [Complaining about his coffee drinking by imagining the alternative, rather than discussing realistic solutions to his sleep problems]
- “You never know, I might win the lottery one day!” [Joking about a scenario that we think of as impossible]
Might definition
Might is a modal verb that expresses possibility and can be used to make logical deductions as well as criticisms or complaints.
She told me not to arrange anything for the weekend, so I think she might be planning a surprise party.
I think I might have the answer to your problem.
We might have taken a wrong turn; I don’t think we’re supposed to be going through Oakland.
You might have told me that you were planning to stay for dinner; I don’t have much in the fridge.
We use might as the past form of “may” in indirect (reported) speech.
| Direct speech example | Indirect speech example |
|---|---|
| “We’re stuck in traffic and may be a bit late.” | He called to say that they were stuck in traffic and might be a bit late. |
Might is also used in conditional sentences in the second and third conditionals.
The flights might have been a bit cheaper if we’d gone at Easter.
May definition
May is a modal verb that expresses possibility and can be used to make polite requests and logical deductions as well as to grant or deny permission (e.g., to communicate rules).
May I ask if you’re planning to dine with us in the hotel this evening, madam?
She told me not to arrange anything for the weekend, so I think she may be planning a surprise party.
I think I may have the answer to your problem.
I think we may have taken a wrong turn; we’re not supposed to be going through Oakland.
The restrooms next to the main office are for visitors and staff only and may not be used by students.
If I may meaning
We use the phrase if I may to transform a statement beginning with “I would like to” or “I will” into a polite request, or to interrupt/interject in a polite way.
I’ll answer that question at the end, if I may.
If I may just make one final point.
We add the phrase if I may say so to soften a critical or bold statement by emphasizing that it is our own subjective opinion/interpretation.
Because it was—if I may say so—an entirely different situation.
It is, if I may say so, a truly remarkable achievement.
Frequently asked questions about may vs might
- What does come what may mean?
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The phrase come what may means “no matter what” or “under any circumstances.” It is used to emphasize firm commitment, the necessity of a particular course of action, or the stability of a situation.
Come what may in a sentence examples We shall ensure that the bridge is repaired by tomorrow, sir, come what may.However, the king insisted that he would, come what may, leave the following morning.
She knows that her parents will always support her, come what may.
You can use might or may interchangeably in many contexts, but not in the phrase “come what may.”
If you’re looking for alternative ways of expressing “come what may” in your writing, why not try QuillBot’s free Paraphraser?
- What does be that as it may mean?
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The phrase be that as it may means “nevertheless” or “that is/could be true but …” We use it to acknowledge what has just been said before introducing a new point in a conversation.
Be that as it may in a sentence examples Not everyone agreed with the decision. Be that as it may, I still think it was the right thing to do.Person A: It’s going to cost a lot of money.
Person B: Be that as it may, it’s an investment that we certainly have to make.
You can often use might or may interchangeably, but not in the phrase “be that as it may.”
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Paraphraser? You can use it to find alternatives to the phrase “be that as it may” in your writing.
- What is a synonym for might?
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Synonyms for the modal verb might when used to talk about future possibilities include:
- May
- Am/are considering
- Will possibly
- Will perhaps
Synonyms for might when used to speculate about the past include:
- Could (have)
- May (have)
- Should (have)
- Ought to (have)
On a related note, it’s possible to use might or may interchangeably in most contexts but not all.
You can use QuillBot’s free Paraphraser to help find synonyms for “might” that fit your specific context.
- What is a synonym for may?
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Synonyms for the modal verb may when used to talk about future possibilities include:
- Might
- Am/are considering
- Will possibly
- Will perhaps
Synonyms for may when used to give or refuse permission include:
- Can
- Is/are allowed to
- Is/are free to
- Is/are authorized to
Synonyms for may when used to ask for permission/make a request include:
- Could
- Can
- Would it be okay/all right if
- Might
On a related note, you can use might or may interchangeably in most contexts but not all.
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Paraphraser? You can use it to help find the best synonyms for “may” in your specific context.
- What does might as well mean?
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We use the phrase might as well to express that we should do something because we cannot think of a good reason not to do it (e.g., “Okay, everyone is already here, so we might as well begin”).
It can be used to emphasize that we don’t really want to do it, but it is probably the best option given the circumstances (e.g., “You’ve opened the package now, so we might as well eat it”).
We can also use this phrase to express disappointment by speculating that taking an alternative course of action in the past would have achieved the same or a better result (e.g., “We might (just) as well have watched it on TV; we were so far away from the action that we had to look at the big screens all the time anyway”).
You can use might or may interchangeably in this phrase when talking about present or future possibilities, but “might” is typically preferred when it is used to refer to the past (i.e., “might as well have”).
Have you tried QuillBot’s free Paraphraser? You can use it to find alternative ways of expressing “might as well” in your writing.
