may / might

[English4everyone]

Hello,
What is the difference between may and might? Can we use them for all the persons? Can we say you may clean the house? Is it the same as you might ...?

[Rover_KE]

Enter your excellent thread title into the Search box at the top of the page for links to many previous discussions of this topic.

Ask again if you've any specific problems.

Rover

[TheParser]

Hello,
What is the difference between may and might? Can we use them for all the persons? Can we say you may clean the house? Is it the same as you might ...?

NOT A TEACHER


(1) The teacher's suggestion to use the search box is an excellent one.

(2) I only wanted to remind you of something:

Sometimes when Americans use might, they really mean no.


(3) Tom and Joe are classmates. (Tom secretly does not like Joe.)

Joe: 'sup? (What's up?)

Tom: Just hanging out.

Joe: I'm having a party on Saturday. You're invited.

Tom: Thanks.

Joe: Will you be there?

Tom: I might. It all depends on my work schedule. ( = No, I am not coming, but

I do not want to hurt your feelings by saying No. And I am lying about the work

schedule, for I do not have a job.)