May I / Might I

[57730]

Hello,
I was told that the modals "may" and "might" could be used just about the same way, "might" being just more formal than "may".
However, I have often heard "May I..." as the beginning of a sentence, but never "Might I...".
I have found sentences like "Honourable senators, might I have leave to finish?" on the internet, but "might I" is always after a comma.

So is "Might I..." gramatically correct? Is it regularly employed?

 

[emsr2d2]

It's grammatically correct but old-fashioned. My grandfather, who was born in 1921, used it.

 

[Yankee]

I would add to emsr2d2's reply that you might hear "might" used sarcastically for a student who is late, as in, "Might I remind you that classes begin here at 8:00AM".