Comments on: Might, May, and Can http://www.dailywritingtips.com/might-may-and-can/ Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:28:21 -0500 hourly 1 By: Jacquelyn Landis http://www.dailywritingtips.com/might-may-and-can/comment-page-1/#comment-191725 Jacquelyn Landis Mon, 12 Oct 2009 18:18:07 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=3408#comment-191725 In response to Madolin's question, the sentence you used as an example expresses both a result and a condition. Both expressions require one of the perfect verb tenses that show an action already completed. Since the actions are in the past, the auxillary verb should be in the past tense. And since "might" is the past tense of "may," it's the correct choice. --J. Landis In response to Madolin’s question, the sentence you used as an example expresses both a result and a condition. Both expressions require one of the perfect verb tenses that show an action already completed. Since the actions are in the past, the auxillary verb should be in the past tense. And since “might” is the past tense of “may,” it’s the correct choice. –J. Landis

]]> By: Lydia, Clueless Crafter http://www.dailywritingtips.com/might-may-and-can/comment-page-1/#comment-191676 Lydia, Clueless Crafter Mon, 12 Oct 2009 16:04:06 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=3408#comment-191676 Corina has a good point that the use of these words may be contextual. Would looking at other romance languages help? Do these two words use different verb tenses in say French, Spanish, Italian? Corina has a good point that the use of these words may be contextual.

Would looking at other romance languages help? Do these two words use different verb tenses in say French, Spanish, Italian?

]]> By: Madolin Wells http://www.dailywritingtips.com/might-may-and-can/comment-page-1/#comment-191266 Madolin Wells Sat, 10 Oct 2009 19:11:19 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=3408#comment-191266 There is a very important may-might distinction, widely ignored or misunderstood, that is not addressed in this article. It shows up in what I believe is the conditional subjunctive. (Please advise if I've got the name of mood or tense wrong.) Ex: "John may not have waited if he'd known Mary had a ride home." The verb should be "might not have waited." This is cringe-inducing to the sensitive ear, because it implies that it has yet to be determined whether or not John waited. Can you elaborate on this? Thanks, MW There is a very important may-might distinction, widely ignored or misunderstood, that is not addressed in this article. It shows up in what I believe is the conditional subjunctive. (Please advise if I’ve got the name of mood or tense wrong.) Ex: “John may not have waited if he’d known Mary had a ride home.” The verb should be “might not have waited.” This is cringe-inducing to the sensitive ear, because it implies that it has yet to be determined whether or not John waited. Can you elaborate on this?
Thanks, MW

]]> By: Corina http://www.dailywritingtips.com/might-may-and-can/comment-page-1/#comment-190668 Corina Thu, 08 Oct 2009 21:20:47 +0000 http://www.dailywritingtips.com/?p=3408#comment-190668 I would say that the difference between 'may' and 'might' is not in the level of probability but in the register. To me, 'might' is much more natural in informal conversation and 'may' sounds more formal. I would say that the difference between ‘may’ and ‘might’ is not in the level of probability but in the register. To me, ‘might’ is much more natural in informal conversation and ‘may’ sounds more formal.

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