Explanation
Exercises

May vs Might — What’s the difference?

Both talk about possibility. Only may is standard for permission.
Future possibility Present speculation Negative: may not / might not Permission: may Form: modal + base verb (no “to”)
Future possibility
may/might + base verb = maybe something will happen. (“may” is slightly stronger than “might”.)
  • It may be too late when we arrive.
  • It might rain this afternoon.
  • I may/might come with you.
Negative possibility
  • We may not go on holiday this year.
  • He might not make it on time.
Present speculation
may/might + base verb = maybe something is true now.
  • They may be sisters.
  • He might be at home.
  • She may not / might not be ready yet.
Permission — use MAY (not might)
Give/deny permission: You may sit here. · You may not use your phone.
Ask for permission: May I come in?
  • Might I come in? — grammatical but very unusual in modern English.
Form notes
  • Modal + base verb: We may/might visit you next summer.
  • We may/might to visit you…
  • Negative: may not / might not (no extra “do”).
  • She doesn’t may come.
Quick contrasts
  • Possibility: “You may not see him today.”
  • Prohibition: “You may not park here.” (= not allowed)
  • Slight nuance: may ≈ more likely than might, but both are fine in everyday speech.

Recap: Use may or might for possibility (future or present); use may for permission. Always follow the modal with a base verb and use may not / might not for negatives.

Exercises:
1
2
3

May and might: What’s the difference?

Choose the correct forms of to complete the sentences below.
1
You use the staff entrance; it’s for employees only.
2
If I finish early, I go jogging, but it’s unlikely today.
3
have some more soup, please?
4
Yesterday Joe said he come to the party.
5
They look similar, but I doubt it — they be brothers.
6
If you’ve finished the test, you leave the room.
7
Jill is coughing a lot. She have a cold, I’m not sure.
8
you have left your keys at work?
9
Visitors take photographs in the gallery.
10
you have a safe journey!

May and might: What’s the difference?

Choose the correct forms for the gaps below
1
If you’ve finished your test, you ____ leave the classroom.
A.
B.
C.
2
They say it ____ rain this evening, so I’m bringing an umbrella.
A.
B.
C.
3
I can’t find my keys — I ____ have left them in the car.
A.
B.
C.
4
The notice says passengers ____ use their phones during take-off and landing.
A.
B.
C.
5
The receptionist said I ____ speak to the manager the next day.
A.
B.
C.
6
If you’d told me earlier, I ____ have helped.
A.
B.
C.
7
The shop is closed; we ____ as well go home.
A.
B.
C.
8
Be careful — the floor ____ be slippery near the entrance.
A.
B.
C.
9
You ____ leave your bags here while you look around the gallery.
A.
B.
C.
10
He looks familiar — I ____ have seen him at last year’s conference.
A.
B.
C.

May and might: What’s the difference?

Fill in the gaps with ‘may’, ‘might’, ‘may not’, or ‘might not’, and one of the verbs in the box. Use MIGHT or MIGHT NOT where possible.
be arrive rain call break find get pass cancel have (lost)
1
Those clouds look heavy. It later.
2
If the traffic is bad, the coach .
3
The courier is nearby; he before noon.
4
Her battery is almost dead, so she tonight.
5
Be gentle with that handle — it .
6
Check the bottom drawer; you the receipt there.
7
Bring your passport — we for ID at the entrance.
8
If you don’t revise, you the test.
9
I can’t find my wallet. I it on the bus.
10
If the storm gets worse, they the outdoor concert.