may
modal verb
possibility; permission
“It may rain later. You may leave early.”
Grammar choices
may vs might
Both express possibility; might usually suggests a slightly smaller chance, and might is the past form in reported speech.
might
modal verb
weaker possibility; past of may
“It might rain, but I doubt it.”
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Drop each word into the blank. The explanation tells you why one works and the other doesn't.
If you had called, I ______ have helped.
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Questions about may vs might
What is the difference between may and might?
Both express possibility; might usually suggests a slightly smaller chance, and might is the past form in reported speech.
How do I remember may vs might?
May = maybe likely. Might = might not. For hypotheticals that did not happen, use might: "You might have been hurt."
Are there exceptions?
"May" is the formal word for permission ("May I sit here?"). For a counterfactual, "might have" is required: "If he had trained, he might have won."
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