MAY

*academic or formal language to talk about characteristics or behaviour of sth

*questions - ONLY when we ask for permission

e.g. May I leave now?

!!!We don’t use may in most questions, instead we use could or be likely!!!

MIGHT

*in speech-what will we do in the future

*questions – rather formal

*might + bare infinitive = formal or literary use

e.g. During the war, the police might arrest you for…..(means what was typically the case in the past)

!!!We can also use could, then it means that somebody was legally able to do something!!

MAY / MIGHT

*limitation or weakness, but….

e.g. His car may/might not be terribly comfortable, but it’s really fast.

!!!When we talk about sth happened in the past we use:

may/might not have + past participle…but…!!!

*possible events:

+ in the past: may/might + have +past participle

e.g. Do you think Jean may/might have completed the report by now?

+ in the present: may/might + be + -ing

e.g. I’ve heard that the newsagent’s is loosing a lot of money and it may/might be closing down.

+ in the future: both may/might + have + past participle and may/might + be + -ing

e.g. When I go to Amsterdam I may/might be staying with George, but I’m not sure yet.

His maths may/might have improved by the time the exams comes round.

!!!Could can be used in the same way!!!

*possible situations or activities that went over a period of past time

e.g. Jane looks exhausted. I suppose she may/might have been running.

David didn’t know where the ball was, but he thought his sister may/might have been playing with it before she left for school.

MIGHT / COULD

*to criticise someone, because they didn’t do sth we thing they should have

e.g. She’s gone without us. She might/could have waited!