Commonly Confused Words

May vs. Might

1 min read

What’s the difference between may and might? They’re similar, but not always the same. Let’s break it down so you know when to use each one.

May

May is used to talk about things that are likely to happen or possible in the present or future. It can also be used to give or ask for permission.

You may be right. (a likely possibility)
She may arrive later today.
May I leave early today? (asking permission)

Might

Might is used when something is less certain or more hypothetical. It can also describe something that didn’t happen.

He might come to the party, but he’s not sure. (less likely)
If it hadn’t rained, we might have gone to the beach. (didn’t happen)

May be vs. Might be

Both phrases mean something is possible, but:

May be = more likely
e.g. It may be hard to find a taxi today.
Might be = less likely
e.g. The driver might be lost.

💡 Tip

🔹 May = likely, polite, or asking for permission
🔹 Might = less likely or more uncertain

Test your knowledge 📝

Question 1 sur 8Score: 0/8

We ___ go to the park if the weather is nice.

Discover the app: Shaky English

Join 100,000 people who are improving their English skills on the Shaky English app

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Commonly Confused Words

May vs. Might

1 min read

What’s the difference between may and might? They’re similar, but not always the same. Let’s break it down so you know when to use each one.

May

May is used to talk about things that are likely to happen or possible in the present or future. It can also be used to give or ask for permission.

You may be right. (a likely possibility)
She may arrive later today.
May I leave early today? (asking permission)

Might

Might is used when something is less certain or more hypothetical. It can also describe something that didn’t happen.

He might come to the party, but he’s not sure. (less likely)
If it hadn’t rained, we might have gone to the beach. (didn’t happen)

May be vs. Might be

Both phrases mean something is possible, but:

May be = more likely
e.g. It may be hard to find a taxi today.
Might be = less likely
e.g. The driver might be lost.

💡 Tip

🔹 May = likely, polite, or asking for permission
🔹 Might = less likely or more uncertain

Test your knowledge 📝

Question 1 sur 8Score: 0/8

We ___ go to the park if the weather is nice.

Discover the app: Shaky English

Join 100,000 people who are improving their English skills on the Shaky English app

Other similar rules

Vocabulary

Punctuation in Parentheses

Agreement rules

Double Negatives (e.g. I don’t know nothing)

Common confusions

Whether vs. If

Common mistakes

Modal Verbs for Advice (should, ought to, had better)

Conjugation

Countable vs. Uncountable Nouns (e.g. informations, advices)

Common confusions

Illusion vs. Allusion

Common confusions

Who vs. That

A bit of theory