I've heard many times that 'might' is also the past of 'may'So I don't get if I should use 'might + infinitive (or have+participle)' instead of 'may + have + participle+'I want to say that a girl was placed by another coordinator (maybe, because I'm not sure) -> was placed ->> pastSo do i have to say:'She may have been placed by another coordinator.'Or 'She might be placed by another coordinator.' (Because like I said, I sometimes read that 'might' can be used for the past of 'may')? Or should it be:'She might have been placed by another coordinator.' ?I hope you see what my question is.LS

<blockquote><cite>louiST</cite>So do i have to say:'She may have been placed by another coordinator.'</blockquote>Yes.<blockquote><cite>louiST</cite>Or 'She might be placed by another coordinator.' (Because like I said, I sometimes read that 'might' can be used for the past of 'may')?</blockquote>No, no, no!<blockquote><cite>louiST</cite>Or should it be:'She might have been placed by another coordinator.' ?</blockquote>Also possible. Yes. _______________ Historically, might was originally the past of may, but in modern English they are treated as equivalent forms with the same meaning. So may have and might have also have the same meaning, and they are the past of may and might. I [may / might] try Mexican food one of these days. (present / future) Lucy [may have / might have] bought the tickets already. Ask her. (past) _______________ Now here's the part where you have to pay attention. <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/> There is an exception when you have a subordinate clause after a past tense form. In this case may and might are not equivalent. Here you use might, not may. I thought that I may see you there, and I did. Wrong. I knew that she may say something like that. Wrong. I thought that I might see you there, and I did. Correct. I knew that she might say something like that. Correct. This applies to reported speech. "I may want to buy a new coat," said Peter. ~ Peter said that he might want to buy a new coat. CJ

Thank you very much!! Love your answers! So there really is no difference between 'may have ' and 'might have + participle'? And what about the present tenses? I may see you there. I might see you there. Are both correct? And do they have different meanings? Thanks!!!! LS

<blockquote><cite>louiST</cite>So there really is no difference between 'may have ' and 'might have + participle'?</blockquote>Not that I can think of. The meaning is the same, but notice that 'may' is used in formal contexts like scientific papers and newspaper articles, and 'might' usually is not. In ordinary conversation I hear 'might' most of the time, but 'may' is also used in such informal situations.<blockquote><cite>louiST</cite>And what about the present tenses? I may see you there. I might see you there. Are both correct? And do they have different meanings?</blockquote>They are both the same. You will find many, many discussions on this topic. Some people will argue that 'may' indicates greater probability and 'might' indicates lower probability. Then other people will argue the reverse, saying that 'might' means greater probability and 'may' means lower probability. In my opinion there is nothing to be gained by thinking like that. Nobody agrees, and you may as well ignore all those discussions. I think those arguments are a waste of time. 'may' and 'might' are the same in meaning. 'may have' and 'might have' are the same in meaning. But keep in mind the exception I told you about. ________________ When asking permission, use may or can rather than might. May I go with you? OK. Somewhat formal. Can I go with you? OK. Very everyday. Might I go with you? - OK, but very timid and old-fashioned. CJ

Okay. And which one is commonly used? Do you use more may or might? And yes, I will keep it in mind <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

<blockquote><cite>louiST</cite>Do you use <del>more</del> may or might more?</blockquote>I almost always use might in conversation when there is a choice between may and might. I use may if I have to write a paper for a class. CJ

Okay. Thanks! <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

<blockquote><cite>Anonymous</cite> might is used when the possibility is less and may is used when the possibility is more of the happening of any event. I think that is a misconception! Consider this: Q - if you ask me: we are going fishing Saturday at 6 am, can you make it? A - I may /might be working, I'll find out tomorrow ? What degree of possibility is this answer?</blockquote>For all the questions revolving the use of "may" and "might", CJ already laid it out very clearly. At the early stage of my learning, I also came across the explanations by others that "might" and "could" were the past form of "may" and "can", and trusted the misconception until I became more proficient with the use of the language. Please don't be mistakenly guided to believe that there are clear guidelines that can help you navigate through the confusion. The only sure way is to use the language often, be observant, read more and listen to how natives would use the auxiliaries. In many conversational cases, "may" and "might" have no difference. i.e. I have a late meeting this afternoon, don't wait for me for dinner; I may / might be a couple of hours late. - uncertainty / possibility. May I join you? - Idiomatic usage of " may" requesting for unsolicited invitation. Never use "might".

Hi,<blockquote><cite>dimsumexpress</cite> May I join you? - Idiomatic usage of " may" requesting for unsolicited invitation. Never use "might".</blockquote>Might I join you? is correct. It is just less common and somewhat dated. Regards

LouiST Posted 14 years ago

Grammar

past-may-might

I've heard many times that 'might' is also the past of 'may'
So I don't get if I should use 'might + infinitive (or have+participle)' instead of 'may + have + participle+'

I want to say that a girl was placed by another coordinator (maybe, because I'm not sure) -> was placed ->> past
So do i have to say:
'She may have been placed by another coordinator.'
Or 'She might be placed by another coordinator.' (Because like I said, I sometimes read that 'might' can be used for the past of 'may')?
Or should it be:
'She might have been placed by another coordinator.'
?

I hope you see what my question is.
LS

AnswerFollow

Top answer

' Yes. ' (Because like I said, I sometimes read that 'might' can be used for the past of 'may')? No, no, no!

— CalifJim

' Yes.
' (Because like I said, I sometimes read that 'might' can be used for the past of 'may')?
No, no, no!
' ?
Also possible.

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31 Answers

CalifJim answered . 14 years ago

louiSTSo do i have to say:'She may have been placed by another coordinator.'

Yes.

louiSTOr 'She might be placed by another coordinator.' (Because like I said, I sometimes read that 'might' can be used for the past of 'may')?

No, no, no!

louiSTOr should it be:'She might have been placed by another coor

LouiST answered . 14 years ago

Thank you very much!! Love your answers!
So there really is no difference between 'may have ' and 'might have + participle'?

And what about the present tenses?
I may see you there.
I might see you there.
Are both correct? And do they have different meanings?

Thanks!!!!
LS

CalifJim answered . 14 years ago

louiSTSo there really is no difference between 'may have ' and 'might have + participle'?

Not that I can think of.

The meaning is the same, but notice that 'may' is used in formal contexts like scientific papers and newspaper articles, and 'might' usually is not. In ordinary conversation I hear 'might' most of the time, but 'may' is also used in suc

LouiST answered . 14 years ago

Okay.
And which one is commonly used? Do you use more may or might?
And yes, I will keep it in mind

CalifJim answered . 14 years ago

louiSTDo you use ~~more~~ may or might more?

I almost always use might in conversation when there is a choice between may and might.

I use may if I have to write a paper for a class.

CJ

LouiST answered . 14 years ago

Okay. Thanks!

Anonymous answered . 14 years ago

might is used when the possibility is less and may is used when the possibility is more of the happening of any event.

Cool Breeze answered . 14 years ago

louiSTI've heard many times that 'might' is also the past of 'may'

CJ has given you a good answer. I'll just add that depending on your native language, there may be cases in which you can translate might in some subordinate clauses using a past tense of your first language. This is because structures and usage of verbs are not identical in all language

Dimsumexpress answered . 14 years ago

Anonymous might is used when the possibility is less and may is used when the possibility is more of the happening of any event. I think that is a misconception! Consider this: Q - if you ask me: we are going fishing Saturday at 6 am, can you make it? A - I may /might be working, I'll fi

Regards answered . 14 years ago

Hi,

dimsumexpress May I join you? - Idiomatic usage of " may" requesting for unsolicited invitation. Never use "might".

Might I join you? is correct. It is just less common and somewhat dated.

Regards

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