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Mr. Tom Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

May want to VS May as well

Hi

Would you say that these sentences are natural and carry the same meaning? Any suggestions are welcome.

(Mother to her son)

John, you may want to iron your T-shirt; it's way too wrinkled.
John, you may as well/might as well iron your T-shirt; it's way too wrinkled.

Thanks,

Tom
  

Top answer

They are both natural expressions, but the nuance is slightly different. "you may want to" is a suggestion/encouragement to do something, or consider doing something. "you may/might as well" means that there is nothing to be lost, and possibly something to be gained, by doing something.

— GPY

  • They are both natural expressions, but the nuance is slightly different.
  • "you may want to" is a suggestion/encouragement to do something, or consider doing something.
  • "you may/might as well" means that there is nothing to be lost, and possibly something to be gained, by doing something.
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1 Answers
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They are both natural expressions, but the nuance is slightly different. "you may want to" is a suggestion/encouragement to do something, or consider doing something. "you may/might as well" means that there is nothing to be lost, and possibly something to be gained, by doing something.
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