What you'll learn
By the end of this lesson, you'll be able to use may and might to hedge: to be polite, cautious and tentative.
When do I use it?
May and might soften what you say, making you sound polite, cautious and less assertive:
- Caution: "This may not be the best option." "The results might change."
- Politeness: "May I suggest a different approach?"
- Tentative conclusion: "That may explain the delay."
In hedging, may and might are nearly interchangeable; "may" is slightly more formal.
How do I form it?
may / might + base verb may / might + have + past participle (about the past)
- There may be some confusion about the date.
- This might take longer than expected.
- The decision may have been rushed.
- They might not agree with us.
Common mistakes for Spanish speakers
Spanish "puede que" / "quizás" maps well, but speakers often add "to" after the modal ("may to be") or use "can" where "may/might" is more polite ("can I suggest" is direct; "may I suggest" is more formal). Also, for hedging use "might/may", not "must" (too strong) — "that must be a problem" says it definitely is; "that might be a problem" hedges. Remember the negative: "may not", not "don't may".
may/might + base verb softens a claim. Use them, not can or must, when you want to sound cautious.
Practice
Multiple Choice
C1Which sentence is the most cautious?
Fill in the Blank
C1There may been a misunderstanding.
Hint: For the past: may have + past participle.
Find the Error
C1Sentence Transformation
C1Task: Make it more polite with 'may'
Hint: 'May I + verb' is a polite form.
Practice Speaking
Apply what you've learned in a real conversation with AI feedback.
Level: C1