May Might
Indicative Mood Is used in Present (followed by the non-
perfect common infinitive):
1. Permission (in affirmative sentence).
Combined with indefinite infinitive.
Ex: You may take my umbrella if you’d like
to.
2. Request (in interrogative sentence). More
formal. “May I” is used when you sure that
permission will be given. May is used when
we talk about ourselves.
Ex: May I switch on the light?
3. Prohibition (only with negative form of
the modal verb) to forbid things. It is better
to use can’t/don’t/mustn’t instead of
mayn’t.
Ex: You may not ignore me when I’m talking
to you.
4. Possibility of the fact (in affirmative
sentence). Is used to talk about typical
occurrences as in scientific and academic
language.
Ex: We may order sushi in 30 minutes.
Children of divorce parents may have
difficulties in forming stable relationship.
Subjunctive 1. Supposition/ uncertainty = maybe (in
Mood (any form affirmative and negative statements).
of the inf.) Ex: You may not believe the words I say but
it’s true.
2. Partially loses its meaning in certain
sentence patterns and in quasi-subjunctive
auxiliary:
a) In clauses of purpose
Ex: I may see you better with this glasses on.
b) In clauses of concession
Ex: Try as he may he will never be top of his
class.
c) In object, predicative, and appositive
clauses after verbs or nouns
expressing hope, wish, fear.
Ex: I wish she may live much longer.
3. Expressions with may:
“I may as well+inf” = expressing intension.
Ex: You may as well give him a letter.
In its Past Indefinite tense form is used in
reported speech (sequence of tenses) or in
some syntactical patterns requiring the
subjunctive mood.
1. Possibility of the fact (in accordance with
the rules of the sequence of tenses). Used to
talk about typical occurrences as in scientific
and academic language but in the past tenses.
Ex: Kate said you might lie to me.
In those days, a man might be hanged for
stealing a sheep.
2. Prohibition (only with negative form of the
modal verb) to forbid things.
Ex: He said I might not enter the room until it
is opened.
1. Request (in interrogative sentence). Is
formal and very polite and not very common.
Used in indirect questions. Is combined with
indefinite infinitive.
Ex: I wonder if I might use your phone for a
minute?
2. Reproach (in positive statements) when
something has not been done and thus implies
some unfulfilled action. (Subj + might + have
done)
Ex: You might at least offer to help.
In combination with the Perf.Inf. it renders
annoyance that action wasn’t carried out.
Ex: You might have opened the door for me!
3. Unreality (conditional meaning = would
perhaps)
Ex: You might have broken the vase!
4. Partially loses its meaning in certain
sentence patterns and in quasi-subjunctive
auxiliary:
a) In cases of purpose
Ex: He died so that others might live.
b) In clauses of concession
Ex: However hard he might try, he never
managed it.
c) In object, predicative, and appositive
clauses after verbs or nouns expressing
hope, wish, fear

Ex: The prisoner had hopes that he might be

set free.
5. Expressions with might:
a) “I might as well+inf” = expressing
intension.
Ex: I might as well take you to the restaurant.
b) “Might just as well” = it would be
equally good to
Ex: You might just as well not to do it.