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”.)
  • I may study English tonight.
  • We might have a short lesson tomorrow.
  • She may/might call you after class.
Negative possibility
  • I may not have time to practice today.
  • He might not understand this word.
Present speculation
may/might + base verb = maybe something is true now.
  • This word may be new for you.
  • The teacher might be in the next room.
  • They may not / might not be ready to speak yet.
Permission — use MAY (not might)
Give/deny permission: You may use a dictionary. · You may not use your phone.
Ask for permission: May I ask a question?
  • Might I ask a question? — grammatical but very unusual in modern English.
Form notes
  • Modal + base verb: We may/might learn ten new words this week.
  • We may/might to learn ten new words…
  • Negative: may not / might not (no extra “do”).
  • She doesn’t may understand.
Quick contrasts
  • Possibility: “You may not remember this rule.”
  • Prohibition: “You may not speak your first language in class.” (= 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 vs Might

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 vs Might

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 vs Might

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.