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Yunus Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

might and may

0 i know that may and might similar in meaning. and they express the idea of 01font00maybe, perhaps. 00and i know maybe it is wrong: might00 00is future of may00. 02font00i don't know the red line between may and might.02br
02br
00for instance; It is possible that Ali will open a savings account = Ali may open a savings account.02br
02br
00but why don't we say Ali might open a savings account. i suppose there is an other difference between them. do you know and help me about it?0-
  

Top answer

0I wouldn't say "might" is the future of "may". 0-

— Pieanne

  • 0I wouldn't say "might" is the future of "may".
  • 0-
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11 Answers
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0I wouldn't say "might" is the future of "may". It's the conditionnal or the simple past, like "could" v/s "can".02br
02br
00There's no reason why you can't say "Ali might open a savings account"; the use of "might" just increases the expression of eventuality.0-
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0 01i00may02i00 and 01i00might02i00 are essentially the same when used in the meaning 01i00it is possible that02i00.02br
00 You can use either one.02br
02br
01i00Ali [may / might] open a savings account.02i02br
02br
00 CJ 0-
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0 i understood that you wanted to tell me, might is stronger possibility than may. i didn't understand wrong did i? 0-
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0I'd say "might" indicates a still 01b00remoter/weaker02b00 possibility, but as Calif says, you can use either one without much difference in meaning.0-
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0i haven't still understood exactly that which one should i use?02br
02br
00another example please look them02br
02br
01font00Some oil countries might not be able to export oil.02font02br
02br
01font00The price of gas may go up.02font02br
02br
01
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0 As I said, with "might", the possibility is less likely than with "may", but it's often a matter of personal choice. 0-
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0I learnt from a writing tips list I belong to that there is a definite differnece between these words:02br
01ul
    02br
    01li
  • 00may = permission02li
    • 02br
    01li
  • 00might = possibility02li
    • 02br
    01li
  • 00can = ability02li
    • 02ul
00Hope it helps!0-
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Vinjenpa12cite10I learnt from a writing tips list I belong to that there is a definite differnece between these words:12br
11ul
    12br
    11li
  • 10may = permission 12br
    11li
  • 10might = possibility 12br
    11li
  • 10can = ability12li
    • 12br
    12br
    10
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0 of course i know might past of may. and it is used in reported speech. but at the same time it is being used in present. so sometimes we use might instead of may. pieanne said that it was less meaning than may. probably i need more exercise to understand them. thanks everyone for replies. 0-
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1b00This MAY help:02b02br
02br
00a) 01i00May 02i00or 01i00might (01u00permission02u02i00):02br
02br
00May I see your passport, please?02br
02br
00May I open the window?02br
02br
00Might I use your bathroom? (especially in British English)
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