Hello!

(A) It may be a good idea ~.
(B) It might be a good idea ~.

Is there any difference between (A) and (B)?
Thanks.

"May" and "Might" are, for all intents and purposes, used the same way in the present tense. "I may go to the movies" and "I might go to the movies" are pretty much interchangeable, and mean essentially the same thing, that there is some probability that some event will occur. "Might" seems to be used when the probability is lower that the event will actually occur, but that's not a hard and fast rule.

The problem with "May" and Might" starts when you see consider "might" as the past tense of "may", where "may" is being used as an auxiliary verb. You would say

"I might have arrived at work on time if I hadn't got caught in a traffic jam", referring to a past event.

But you would also say "I may arrive at work on time if I leave home early enough".

Still, people would use "might" in the context of the last sentence and be perfectly understood. It's just not correct usage.

It's confusing, but even people who speak English as their first language, including me, screw up using "may" and "might" on a regular basis.

HTH

"May" and "Might" are, for all intents and purposes, used the same way in the present tense. "I may go to the movies" and "I might go to the movies" are pretty much interchangeable, and mean essentially the same thing, that there is some probability that some event will occur. "Might" seems to be used when the probability is lower that the event will actually occur, but that's not a hard and fast rule.

The problem with "May" and Might" starts when you see consider "might" as the past tense of "may", where "may" is being used as an auxiliary verb. You would say

"I might have arrived at work on time if I hadn't got caught in a traffic jam", referring to a past event.

But you would also say "I may arrive at work on time if I leave home early enough".

Still, people would use "might" in the context of the last sentence and be perfectly understood. It's just not correct usage.

It's confusing, but even people who speak English as their first language, including me, screw up using "may" and "might" on a regular basis.

HTH

There you go, Cap K! Stuttering again!

Wh-wh-wh-what d-d-d-d-did you say?

"I might have arrived at work on time if I hadn't got caught in a traffic jam"

This is the only example CapK gave that couldn't use either "may" or "might". In this context (past tense) "might" indicates a known result contrary to fact. The speaker is saying that the traffic jam prevented his arriving at work on time but he isn't sure whether other things would have prevented it if it hadn't been for the traffic jam. To say, "may have arrived at work on time..." indicates that the speaker isn't sure whether the arriving at work on time happened, not something one would say about one's own arrival at work.

To me, may indicates a real probability. Might indicates a somewhat remote possibility.

Dear CK: I am too modest to post same drivel twice.

No you're not. You do it all the time, but you just don't realise it.

Dear CK: You're just more obvious about it. You should look at Max'x hints and learn how to
"Delete this Post"

(A) I might have arrived at work on time if I hadn¡¯t got caught in a traffic jam.
(B) You may arrive at work on time if you leave home early enough.

(C) I couldn¡¯t have arrived at work on time because I had got caught in a traffic jam.
(D) You can arrive at work on time if you leave home early enough, though I¡¯m not sure.

Is (A) equal to (C)?
Is (B) equal to (D)?

You should look at Max'x hints and learn how to
"Delete this Post"

But Dr. Bill, then I may never have a chance to tell him he stutt--ttt--ers again!

Dear Angel: CK's expertise is such that I don't get many chances to needle him. Posting two long identical messages and leaving both just is not his style. I may have spoiled your fun, but I might never get another chance.

I may have spoiled your fun, but I might never get another chance.
That was great, Dr. Bill!
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Soojin, it's nice to see you back here. In your example, (A) I might have arrived at work on time if I hadn¡¯t got caught in a traffic jam.
(B) You may arrive at work on time if you leave home early enough.

(C) I couldn¡¯t have arrived at work on time because I had got caught in a traffic jam.
(D) You can arrive at work on time if you leave home early enough, though I¡¯m not sure.,
A and C are essentially alike, yes, but--C is not necessariily a true statement, as it is written. For ex., if the traffic jam only lasted a short time. We would say "I didn't arrive at work on time because of the traffic jam". We would only say couldn't have arrived at work on time if there was some incontrovertible fact proving that we were prevented from being there on time, such as every access street being flooded.

B & D are also essentially the same, but again, we wouldn't use the wording as it is in D. We might say, "You can arrive at work on time if you leave home early enough" in certain circumstances (such as a lecture to young adults about to embark on careers). But substituting 'should' for 'can' in your sentence gives a more accurate meaning.

Dear Jackie.

Thank you very much.

Hi soojin ~

I'm sure I'm in the minority here, but I confine my use of "may" and "might" to distinct meanings (and, I must add, similarly regarding the third of this triad, "can"):

can - has the ability to
may - has permission to
might - the possibility of

As to the phrase it may/might be a good idea, I believe that the meaning intended is it is possibly a good idea, and thus I would use "might."

So ~

I can go = I am capable of going
I may go = I have permission to go
I might go = it is possible (but not sure) that I will go

Dear Sparteye,

Thank you very much.
I am very happy.