might or may

0You can use both.0-

0Thank you. Is the "might" the past tense of "may"? I was looking at a dictionary and think it said so.0-

0 Historically 01i00might 02i00is the past of 01i00may02i00, but both are used in the present in modern English.02br
01i00might02i00 is also used optionally as the past of 01i00may02i00 in indirect speech.02br
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01i00I may go (now).02br
00 I might go (now

0The difference in degree between "You may be right" and "You might be right" is slight but not insignificant: If I say you may be right about something, there is a higher degree of probability that you are right about it than if I say you might be right about something. "You think Einstein is the most brilliant physicist who ever lived? You may be right." versus "You think it's going to rain th

0 My two cents.02br
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00 I have read that claim about the degrees of probability between 01i00may02i00 and 01i00might02i00 in many places for years, and I have never believed it. 01i00might02i00 and 01i00may02i00, used as "it is possible that", i.e., when having nothing to do wi

0 01blockquote

00If I say you may be right about something, there is a higher degree of probability that you are right about it than if I say you might be right about something.12br
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10I don't think you really meant that! 15010 I know of no cases where someone else's word choice makes it more or less likely that I am right!12br
12

0To talk about the chance (possibility) that something will happen, or is happening, we use 01i00may, might,02i00 or 01i00could,02i00 but not 01i00can02i00. There is little difference between 01i00may 02i00and 01i00might, 02i00but a speaker who uses 01i00might02i