Unit 30: MAY AND MIGHT
May and might are modal verbs. Unit 27 shows you how to make correct sentences with them. This unit shows you when to use them.
Possibility
NOW
EXAMPLE: I don't know where John is but he might be helping a customer.
NOTICE: The stores may be very busy. = today
BUT: The stores can be very busy. = generally
FUTURE
EXAMPLE: Clothing prices might fall again soon.
NOTICE: also may
PAST
EXAMPLE: I think you may have got a good deal.
NOTICE: also might; also could (Unit 29)
Permission
STATEMENT
EXAMPLE: Customers may enter the store from 9:00 to 5:00 each day.
REQUEST
EXAMPLES:
May I come in?
May we think about it for a few days?
NOTICE: May only; do NOT use might
NOTICE: more polite than can (Unit 28) or could (Unit 29)
Might with past tense
We use might (NOT may) in sentences with a past tense verb before the modal (Unit 63).
EXAMPLES:
I thought that store might be busy so I went to a different one.
He told me that the next sale at the store might be very big.