May and might (1)

We use may or might to say that something is a possibility. Usually you can use may or might, so you can say;

It may be true. or It might be true. ( = perhaps it is true )

She might know. or She may know.

The negative forms are may not and might not ( mightn’t ) :

It might not be true. ( = perhaps it isn’t true )

I’m not sure whether I can lend you any money. I may not have enough. ( = perhaps I don’t have enough )

Study the structure:

                         may                be ( true / in his office etc. )

I / you / he etc.            ( not )   be ( doing / working / having etc. )

                         might              do / know / have / want etc.

For the past we use may have done or might have done:

I wonder why Kate didn’t answer the phone. She may have been asleep. ( = perhaps she was asleep )

I can’t find my bag anywhere. You might have left it in the shop. ( = perhaps you left it in the shop )

Study the structure :

                         may                         been ( asleep / at home etc. )

I / you / he etc.            ( not ) have   been ( doing / working etc. )

                         might                       done / known / had / seen etc.

Sometimes could has a similar meaning to may and might:

The phone is ringing. It could be Tim. ( = it may / might be Tim )

You could have left your bag in the shop. ( = you may / might have left it… )

But couldn’t ( negative ) is different from may not and might not. Compare:

She was too far away, so she couldn’t have seen you. ( = it is not possible that she saw you )

I wonder why she didn’t say hello. She might not have seen you. ( = perhaps she didn’t see you; perhaps she did )