The past tense of "may"

Question

1. I think he may not have noticed me.When one wants to change 1 to the past tense, is it obligatory to change the tense of "may" into "might"?2. I thought he might not have noticed me.Or should "may" be preserved as such?3. I thought he may not have noticed me.Which is the sentence to choose?

Ruslana · Accepted Answer

"Might" is the correct one.

Marius Hancu · Answer

For many people, both "may have" and "might have" are correct and used for the past. There's more doubt in "might have."

Things are a bit complicated and controversial. One of the points of view is here:

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http://www.orlapubs.com/AL/L39.html

potential MAY (HAVE)

used for possibilities in non-past time; may have is used for possibility in any past time up till now; e.g.
"They may (have) put it there."
One cannot say
"It may have survived"
when it is known that it didn't survive or hasn't survived!

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conditional-potential MIGHT (HAVE) (past) past-posterior

used for doubtful possibilities in past time; e.g.
"They might have put it there yesterday";
"They said that it might arrive on time."
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Milky · Answer

Teleostomi1. I think he may not have noticed me.

When one wants to change 1 to the past tense, is it obligatory to change the tense of "may" into "might"?

2. I thought he might not have noticed me.

Or should "may" be preserved as such?

3. I thought he may not have noticed me.

Which is the sentence to choose?

"May (not) have" is just fine there.

Ruslana · Answer

Do you mean that after the verb "thought", which is used in past, it's fine to use "may"? I thought he may not have noticed me? But what about sequence of tenses? Or I don't get something?

Marius Hancu · Answer

"may" is a modal verb
as such, it's less related to tense than to mode/modality

Teleostomi · Answer

Thanks to all concerned for your help!

Marius, you inspired me! I have another question related to your post. I hope I'm not bothering you too much, but I'd be very happy if you would take a look at it.

Gray slide 407 · Answer

I think you might have heard about the issue?

Am I correct?

The past tense of "may"

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