Translation of modal verbs may might. Might - past tense of may in indirect speech

May And might belong to the group of modal verbs. Both words denote the possibility of something. Usually they can easily replace each other without changing the translation of the sentence, however might often implies a lesser chance of something happening.

Compare:

It may rain. (probability - 50%)
It might rain. (probability - 30%)

Despite the fact that as a translation of modal verbs may and might the dictionary contains the words “to be able”, “to have the opportunity”, “to be probable”, in the context these words can be translated as “possibly”, “probably”, etc.

Some people insist that may should be used in the present tense when talking about current events, and might should be used in the past tense when talking about events in the past. For example:

She may go home early, if she’s tired.(present tense)
I might have visited Russia before settling in Minsk.(past
time)

In practice, these distinctions are made very rarely, so the two verbs are used interchangeably.

She might go home early, if she’s tired.
I may have visited Russia before settling in Minsk.

However, differences exist between the expressions may have and might have in a particular context. If how things really are is not known at the time of speaking (or writing), then both options are acceptable:

By the time he reads this, they may have (might have) made his decision.

If we are talking about the fact that something has already happened, and we know the result, then it is better to use mgh have:

The draw against Italy might have been a turning point, but it didn’t turn out like that.

Rules for using verbs might And may

Expressing probability (in the future)

If there is a possibility that something will happen or something is true, then we use might or may.

Comment : might used more often in colloquial speech than may.

It might rain tomorrow.
It might rain tomorrow.
They might go to the restaurant tonight.
Perhaps tomorrow evening they will go to a restaurant. (but they're not sure yet)
I think you may win.
I think you can (maybe) win.
You may be late for dinner. Hurry up!
You might be late for dinner. Hurry up!

Ask permission or allow something

In general, in colloquial speech, to ask permission, it is usually used can. However may should be used in more formal situations when you want to appear polite.

May I come in?- Can I come in? (Can I come in?)

Comment: Might can also be used when making requests, but this word is not as common. You could even say that it sounds very old-fashioned nowadays.

Now we allow you to do something using the verb may:

You may take only one book with you.- You can only take one book with you.

To, on the contrary, prohibit something, we add to may particle not:

You may not take more than one book with you. -You cannot take more than one book with you.

Typical situations (may)

May is used in academic (scientific) language to describe phenomena that occur in specific situations:

Adults may find it difficult to sleep if they use technology before going to bed. - Adults may have difficulty falling asleep if they use technology before bed.

Assumptions about events (actions) in the past

What was that noise? It may have been a dog outside our window. -What was that noise? Perhaps it was the dog barking outside our window.

Might - past tense of may in indirect speech

When translating direct speech in English into indirect speech, the modal verb may turns into might:

Matt said, "I may come."
Matt said that he might come.

Wishes (may)

May you both live a happy life together.
May the New Year bring you joy.
May the Force be with you.

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Basic meaning of modal verb may- assumption and resolution, translated into Russian as “possible, maybe, probably.”

Forms of the modal verb may

May has two temporary forms: may- present tense form (Present Simple) and might- past tense form (Past Simple).

Both forms and may, And might used with all persons.

You may go - You may not go - May I go?

You might go - You might not go (You mightn't go) - Might I go?

After a modal verb may/ might followed by an infinitive verb without particle to . Note the missing particle to after may/ might!

Modal verb may. Use

Modal verb may used:

to express permission. May not in this case, he expresses the refusal “you can’t, I don’t allow”:

You may take only one brochure. — You can only take one brochure (permit).
You may take my pen. — You can take my pen (permission).
You may not park your car in front of the gate. — You cannot park your car in front of the gate (not allowed).

to express a polite request, and more formal than with the verb:

May we come a bit later? - Can we come a little later? (polite request)
May I sit next to you? -Can I sit next to you? (polite request)

Permission and request from may will always sound more formal than with can.

to express possibility, existing due to objective circumstances:

These tablets may produce serious side effects if not taken in the correct dosage. - These pills can cause serious side effects if not taken in the correct dosage (typical case).

to express an assumption, mixed with doubt. Translated into Russian “perhaps, maybe.” In this meaning after may different forms of the infinitive may follow depending on the time when the action occurs:

He may come. - He may come (He may come).
She may be working now. — She may be working now (She may be working now).
They may have arrived hours ago. - They may have arrived a few hours ago (They could have arrived a few hours ago).
He may have been waiting for us for an hour already. “He’s probably been waiting for us for an hour.”

Use of might

Might used:

as a past tense form from may when agreeing tenses in indirect speech:

He asked if he might borrow the car. — He asked if he could borrow the car. (He asked, ‘May I borrow the car?’)
He said that he might come. “He said he might come.” (He said, “I may come.”)

to express an extremely polite request:

Might I ask do you have a question? — Can I ask you a question? (very polite request)

to express an assumption, mixed with doubt. In this meaning after might different forms of the infinitive can also follow:

I might go to the movies tonight. — Maybe I’ll go to the cinema tonight (maybe I will, although I’m not sure).
It might rain later. — It might rain later (or maybe not).
It's ten o'clock. They might have arrived now. - Ten o'clock. Perhaps they have arrived (or maybe they have not arrived yet).

Difference between may and might

From the above, we see that may, And might are used to express assumption mixed with doubt. In this meaning may / might practically interchangeable. There is a small nuance: might expresses less confidence than may. In percentage terms it will look like this:

I may pass the exam. — Perhaps I’ll pass the exam (I’m about 50-60% sure, maybe I’ll pass it after all)
I might pass the exam. — Perhaps I will pass the exam (I am about 20-30% sure, that is, the likelihood that I will pass the exam is extremely small).

Be allowed to is the equivalent of the modal verb may

At the modal verb may there is an equivalent be allowed to, which can be used in different tenses and convey the resolution value:

Present Simple: am / is / are + allowed to — We are allowed to stay at home. — We are allowed to stay at home (we can stay).
Past Simple: was / were + allowed to — We were allowed to stay at home. - We were allowed to stay at home.
Future Simple: will be + allowed to — We will be allowed to stay at home. - We will be allowed to stay at home.

Many people very often have to communicate with foreigners while traveling. You ask someone for directions, ask someone for help, bargain with someone, and just talk to someone. People enjoy communicating when their interlocutors are open and polite.

In this article we will talk about the modal verb may and its past form might. With its help, you will become the most polite person in the eyes of our foreign friends.

From the article you will learn: in what situations we use these verbs, how may differs from can, and how to correctly construct sentences with may/might.

Translation and usage of the verb may in English

We translate the verb may as “probably/can/can.” We use it in the following situations:

1. If something can happen, but you are not sure about it. That is, there is a certain probability that this will happen.
For example: I may be late, don't wait for me.

It may rain tonight.
It might rain today.

They may come back.
They may come back.

2. Used to say that someone is allowed to do something. In this sense, may is a more formal word than can.
For example: You can go for a walk.

You may take whatever you like.
You can take whatever you like.

We have finished the work, so we may go home.
We finished work so we can go home.

3. Used to ask permission or suggest something in a polite manner.
For example: May I ask?

May I ask you a question?
Can I ask you a question?

May I suggest another hotel?
May I suggest another hotel?

The difference between the verb may and the verb can

In English there is another modal verb can, which is also translated as “I can.” How do you know when to use which verb? Now I will explain to you.

Can expresses physical or mental ability.
That is, a person says that he is able to do something. For example: I can solve this problem myself, you don’t need help.

I can remove this table.
I can move this table.

In this case, the person says that he is physically able to lift the table and put it in another place.

May expresses permission and permission to do something.
That is, a person has permission to do something.

I may remove this table.
I can move this table.

What is meant here is that the person has permission to take the table and put it in another place.

The verb may is in the past tense

The verb may has the past tense form might, which translates as “could.” It is used in the following cases:

1. When something was possible in the past, but did not happen.
For example: He could go to the concert with us.

You might meet him.
You could have met him.

He might become famous.
He could become famous.

2. When the possibility of something is communicated
For example: He thought that his words might upset her.

He thought he might be wrong.
He thought he might be wrong.

She might know the answer.
She might know the answer.

Please note: Might is also used in meanings other than the past tense of may. This verb is used:

1. To politely suggest that someone should do something.
For example: You can look for this information on the Internet if it is not here.

You might find new job.
You can find a new job.

They might go to new restaurant today.
They can go to a new restaurant today.

2. To politely ask permission to do something.
Above I wrote that we can do the same using the verb may. What's the difference? It's very simple. Might is used in spoken British English.
For example: Can I borrow your pen?

Might I ask your name?
May I ask your name?

Might I open the window?
Can I open the window?

3. When you're annoyed because someone didn't do what you think they should have done.
For example: They could clean up after themselves after they eat.

You might have told me.
You could have told me.

You might ask before you use my computer.
You might as well ask before using my computer.

Affirmative sentences with verbs may/might

The verb may is self-contained, so it does not require other auxiliary verbs. Also remember that it does not change in any way depending on the character. The sentence formation scheme will be like this:

the one in question + may/might + action

Examples:

You may ask me any question you want.
You can ask me any question.

She might use my car at any time.
She can use my car any time.

Negative sentences with the verb may/might

When we say that something is not possible or prohibit someone from doing something, we put not after may/might. The education scheme will be as follows:

the one in question + may/might + not + action

You may not smoke in the elevator.
You cannot (prohibited) smoke in the elevator.

Tom might not know the answer.
Tom might not know the answer.

Abbreviations:

When negated, we can use the following abbreviations:

may + not = mayn’t
might + not = mightn't

He mightn't agree.
He may not agree.

Visitors mayn't feed the animals.
Visitors are not allowed to feed the animals.

Interrogative sentences with the verb may/might

To ask permission to do something, you need to be able to construct interrogative sentences. To ask a question, we put may first. Sentence formation scheme:

May/might + person in question + action

May I borrow your dictionary?
Can I borrow your dictionary?

Might I come in?
Can I come in?

When answering, you can use may/may not :

Yes, you may.
Yes you can.

No, you may not.
No, you can't.

Interrogative sentences with clarifying words

To clarify any information we are interested in, we can use the following words when asking a question:

• What - what
• Where - where
• Who - who
• Which - which
• Why - why
• When - when

To construct a question with these words, we put them in first place, the rest of the word order remains as in a regular question. Scheme for forming such a question:

Clarifying words + may/might + the one in question + action

So now you are familiar with another modal verb. Now let's consolidate theoretical knowledge in practice.

Reinforcement task

Translate the following sentences into English. Be careful!

1. I may be late for the meeting.
2. Can they sign these documents?
3. She can run 10 kilometers.
4. We can't park here.
5. What can I do for you?
6. We could have gone to the cinema yesterday.
7. He can't stay here overnight.
8. You could call me.

Leave your answers in the comments below the article.

Modal verb might most often used to express possibility and conjecture. It can also often be used in conditional sentences. Besides this, might can be used to make a suggestion or request, although it is rarely used in this sense in American English.

For example:
Your purse might be in the living room.
Your handbag Maybe be in the living room. ( Expresses possibility and conjecture.)

If I didn't have to work, I might go with you.
If I didn't have to work, I would could come with you. ( Conditional offer.)

You might visit the botanical gardens during your visit.
You could visit the botanical gardens during your visit. ( Expresses a proposal.)

Might I borrow your pen?
Can should I take your pen? ( Expresses a request.)

Using the modal verb might in the present, past and future tenses

In most cases, the use of modal verbs in the past and future tenses is different from other verbs. The table below shows use of a modal verb might in different situations.

Modal verbs are one of the most complex topics in the English language, where there are many exceptions to every rule and much is built on semantic nuances. This also happens in the case of the pair may – might.

Definition

Might– a modal verb used to denote possibility, assumption, in conditional sentences, less often when making a proposal or request.

May- a modal verb used to denote an assumption, a possibility, less often - when asking about permission for something or granting permission.

Comparison

These modal verbs have overlapping areas of use and their own fiefdoms. Therefore, it will be easier to look at the difference in their use using the following table:

So we see that if you want to express permission, you only use may.

You may take it. You can take this.

If you need a conditional (could), might is your helper, as is the case if you make a sentence.

He might do it. He could do it.

Be careful with negative statements - for example, a request for permission does not have a negative form.

Another aspect that deserves attention is that may usually contains a high degree of probability of the expressed assumption or assessment of the possibility. Therefore, if you are not sure about something, it is better to stop at might. This is especially worth considering if you use written language, since in this case you cannot use facial expressions or intonation to clarify the phrase, and maximum semantic accuracy is required.

And finally, might can simply act as the past tense form of the verb may.

Conclusions website

1. May is used to state permission;
2. Might is used to use conditional phrases and when making sentences;
3. Both modal verbs can be used to make assumptions and requests, but may refers to more probable events.
4. In some cases might is the past tense form of the verb may.