Correctly using “may” is an important lesson in politeness. If you ever asked a teacher, “Can I use the restroom?” only to receive a response of “I don’t know, can you?,” that was likely frustrating, but that teacher was looking for you to ask, “May I use the restroom?” “May” refers to possibility while “can” is about one’s ability to do something. Once you’ve mastered that lesson, the next step is to learn the difference between “may” and “might.”
“May” and “Might” are both modal verbs, meaning they are used with a primary verb to express situations of possibility, necessity, and permission. Other modal verbs include “can,” “could,” “should,” “ought to,” and “would.” With “may” and “might,” the meanings to express permission and possibility are similar, and some people use them interchangeably. However, “may” is mostly used in the present and future tenses, while “might” is often used in the past when expressing possibility. When you say, “I may go to the store,” it’s happening soon or about to happen. “I might have gone to the store if I had more time” is the past tense, but it also addresses the possibility that something could have happened, but it didn’t.
In the context of permission, “may” is usually the right call, because asking if you “might” do something indicates something that is unlikely to happen. “May I have another piece of cake?” is a polite question. “Might I have another piece of cake?” sends the situation into the hypothetical. However, British people use “might” in place of “may” as a request for permission. But in American English, stick to “may.”
Finally, “may” and “might” address two different versions of hypotheticals. A famous nursery rhyme shows this overlap:
First star I see tonight;
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight
“May” usually refers to a hypothetical statement that is actually possible, but “might” indicates you’re reasonably sure that something will not occur. For example, I may be able to still do a cartwheel. But might I suddenly master a backbend? Past experience points to the unlikeliness of the possibility.
Saying “you might remember” implies they likely don’t remember that situation, so keep your tone in mind. Likewise, giving a warning of “I might be late” is polite, but it suggests that it’s unlikely. Do these strictly apply to casual conversations? Not always — but these are the slight nuances in how “may” and “might” differ from each other.
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