May and Might

May and might (1) May and might are used to mention that something is possible or is a possibility. Check this example situations out: He is may be in his car. ==> Maybe he is in his car. He might be having lunch. ==> Maybe he is having lunch. Ask Sylvia. She might know. ==> Maybe she knows. Usually, may or might can be used by saying for example: It may be true. or It might be true. ==> Maybe it is true. She might know. or She may know. ==> Maybe she knows. The negative forms are: for may ==> may not; Example: I may not have enough time to stay. ==> Maybe I don't have enough time to stay. for might ==> might not or mightn't. Example: It might not be true. ==> Maybe it isn't true. The following structure gives a detailled use of may and might: I / you / he etc. may might (not) be (true / in his car etc.) be (doing / having / making etc.) do / make / have / want / play etc. To express the past, we can use may have (done) or might have (done): A: I wonder why Jazz didn't answer the phone. B: She may have been taking a nap. ==> Maybe she was taking a nap. A: I can't find my backpack anywhere. B: You might have left it in the shop. ==> Maybe you left it in the shop. A: I was surprised that Janeel wasn't at the meeting. B: He might not have known about it. ==> Maybe he didn't know about it. A: I wonder why Sylvia was in such a bad mood yesterday. B: She may not have been feeling good. ==> Maybe she wasn't feeling good. The following structure gives a detailled use of may have and might have: I / you / he etc. may might (not) have been (at home / in his car / asleep etc.) been (doing / having or taking a nap / making etc.) done / made / had / wanted / played / seen etc. It happens sometimes that Could the same meaning as may and might has and can be used as such. A car is honking. It could be Dave. ==> It may / might be Dave. You could have left your backpack in the shop. ==> You may / might have left your backpack... But couldn't, the negative form of could has a different meaning as may not and might not. Compare this two examples: James was driving too fast, he couldn't have seen you. ==> It is not possible that he saw you. A: I wonder why she didn't say hello passing by. B: She might not have seen you. ==> Maybe she didn't see you; Maybe she did.