difference between may and might

may and might. It may rain. It might rain. What’s the difference? Just as could is the past tense of can, might is the past tense of may: We thought we might win the tournament. But might can also be used as a substitute for may to show diminished possibility. Thus, saying We might go to the movies means that the li

As the other poster said, there's time, possibility/likelihood and social relations ("politeness" is a limited concept) involved in choosing which to use.

We thought we might have won. DISTANCE IN TIME (and possibility)

We might go to the beach this weekend. DISTANCE OF POSSIBILITY/LIKELIHOOD

Might I help you, sir? DISTANCE IN SOCIAL RELATIONS

We may win today.

See my quotation from Garner in:

0Hi02br
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00Say if I want to tell my friends that I want to have our weekly meeting at their place this week, will it be more correct to say "It may be better to have the meeting at your place this week"? rather than "It might be better to have the meeting at your place this week"?02br
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00Is there a difference between the two?02br
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0There is no difference between 01i00may02i00 and 01i00might02i00 worth agonizing about. 01i00may02i00 sounds a bit more formal to my ear. And 01i00may02i00 cannot be used where a past tense is required in tense matching: 01i00I knew I might be late02i00. Not 01i00I k

0See this thread:02br
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00or search (top right 01b00Search02b00 box), say with:02br
01b00user:CalifJim may might02b00 02br
00to see posts by CalifJim on this subject. 040pid501620

what is the difference between may and might

may is present tense.. past tense tense for may is might..

Anonymousmay is present tense.. past tense tense for may is might..

might is usually used in the present tense, though it is also used as the backshift of may in reported speech. It is past in form only.
CJ

could you explain to me the difference between may/might and maybe