May / Might

May / might

may

We can use 'may' to ask for permission. However this is rather formal and not used very often in modern spoken English

May I borrow your pen?
May we think about it?
May I go now?
We use 'may' to suggest something is possible

It may rain later today.
I may not have time to do it today.
Pete may come with us
might

We use 'might' to suggest a small possibility of something. Often we read that 'might' suggests a smaller possibility that 'may', there is in fact little difference and 'might is more usual than 'may' in spoken English.

She might be at home by now but it's not sure at all.
It might rain this afternoon.
I might not have time to go to the shops for you.
I might not go.
For the past, we use 'might have'.

He might have tried to call while I was out.
I might have dropped it in the street.