0
Keenlearner Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

May OR Might???

0Hi,02br
02br
00"I think I might have an idea."02br
02br
00wat is meant by the sentence above mentioned?I got this from a cartoom movie,where they were trying to trap the mice, and a man said that sentence.Why might has been used in this sentence instead of may? Please tell me that and also let me know my mistakes in the post.02br
02br
00regards[A]0-
  

Top answer

0 In this sentence the might shows uncertainty. May is basically the same, and could be used here. I don't think that the 'may' has any special nuance which is different from 'might' in this context.

— Old Man Gordon

  • 0 In this sentence the might shows uncertainty.
  • May is basically the same, and could be used here.
  • I don't think that the 'may' has any special nuance which is different from 'might' in this context.
  • I tend to use 'may' very rarely, and it often seems somewhat formal.
  • 0-
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

9 Answers
0
0 In this sentence the might shows uncertainty. May is basically the same, and could be used here. I don't think that the 'may' has any special nuance which is different from 'might' in this context. I tend to use 'may' very rarely, and it often seems somewhat formal. 0-
0
0
0Bundal of thanks OMG05000,it was a nice explanation,so you mean to say if we say "I think I may have an idea"this is also correct and we can say that without any hesitation?010id1
0
0
0 When 01i00may02i00 is used in the context of permission, 01i00might02i00 cannot substitute for 01i00may02i00.02br
00 We say, "Yes, you may go", not "Yes, you might go".02br
00 Of course, 01i00can02i00 is also used with this meaning: "Yes, you can go".02br
02br
0
0
0 01blockquote
01cite10Keenlearner12cite12br
10Hi,12br
12br
10"I think I might have an idea."12br
12br
10wat is meant by the sentence above mentioned?I got this from a cartoom movie,where they were trying to trap the mice, and a man said that sentence.Why might has been used in this sentence instead of ma
0
0
0 01blockquote
01cite10CalifJim12cite10 Because 11i10can12i10 can substitute for one meaning of 11i10may12i10, and 11i10might12i10 can substitute for the other meaning of 11i10may12i10, one could almost speak English for years without ever using the word 11i
0
0
0Kooyeen,02br
02br
00We can’t completely avoid or purposely replace one with the other in practical daily English. 00 00I don’t believe there are rules to guide us on how, when and where to use a certain aux. word. 02br
02br
01b01font00Might 02font02b00I have the salt and pepper shakers –defin
0
0
0 01blockquote
01cite10Goodman12cite11b11font10Might 12font12b10I have the salt and pepper shakers –definitely sounds strange to me12br
12br
11b11font10Might 12font12b10I see you again? – Same strange tone!12br
1
0
0
0 Actually, you can use 01i00might02i00 there. [AmE]02br
02br
01i00Might I have the salt?02i02br
02br
00But only if you are willing to wait a long time for anyone to respond to your request, because if you ask for something with that phrasing, you'll be taken for a timorous little mouse! 05002br
02br
0
0
0I think means he is not confidental about his idea and might can be used instea of may basically there is no differance between these two0-
0

Related Questions