Pimp my English | Using “may” and “might”

By Anna Malczyk
While these words might look similar, you may be using them incorrectly! Here’s a quick explanation of when you use each one.

Refresher: “May” and “can”
In a previous lesson, we learned that “may” indicates permission, while “can” indicates possibility. For example:
•    May I borrow your pen? (Do I have permission to borrow it?)
•    Can you run 10km in one hour? (Is it possible for you to do this?)

This is one way of using “may”.

“May” and “might”
There is a subtle but important difference between these two words. Both words indicate that something is possible, but on different scales.

“May” means that something is possible or quite likely.
•    We may upload the info pack today since it’s complete.

“Might”, on the other hand, indicates that the possibility of something happening is very small. Something that “might” happen is less likely than something that “may” happen.
•    It might rain later, but the sky looks perfectly clear for now.

“Might” is also the past tense of “may”.

•    He might have done the assignment already.

This article is published under the Creative Commons Attribution license.