May\might 2

[Tdol]

[Isra]

hi tdol!

I am for the first alternative?
Why not? May be isn't clear if he survived or not??

[riverkid]

He may have died.

This can be used in either an epistemic modal manner or a deontic modal manner so either is possible. 'may' used in the latter fashion, as a deontic denoting an admonishment is a much less likely collocation than 'could' or 'might', hence we have a greater tendency to view it as "a possibility that he died".

[angel_catcher75]

i think both are possible depending on the situation and the intonation the speaker uses while saying it. the first one will mean that he escaped close death and the second will imply uncertainity

[bessy1227]

hi,
May i know the answer?

[Tdol]

He may have died in the accident.- current status unknown
He might have died in the accident.- he survived, but there was a risk of death

However, this distinction is being eroded and many speakers use 'may + have + past participle' with the second meaning.

[riverkid]

Originally Posted by Tdol

He may have died in the accident.- current status unknown
He might have died in the accident.- he survived, but there was a risk of death

However, this distinction is being eroded and many speakers use 'may + have + past participle' with the second meaning.

This distinction never existed, Tdol, at least not in the sweeping fashion that has been suggested. In certain circumstances, 'might' can be used in a mocking, admonishing type fashion;

"He might have been killed if you two had tried that stunt."

But to suggest that a speaker can't state that, in their mind, there's a greater certainty that death could have occurred, leaves certain thoughts unexpressable in English. This is something that just can't possible occur.

"He may have been killed if you two had tried that stunt."

"He probably would have been killed if you two had tried that stunt."

"He almost certainly would have been killed if you two had tried that stunt."

"He would have been killed if you two had tried that stunt."

He may have died in the accident.- current status unknown or an admonishment

He might have died in the accident. - current status unknown or an admonishment