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#61550 03/18/02 08:17 AM
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soojin Offline OP
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Hello!

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

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


#61551 03/18/02 11:05 AM
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"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



The idiot also known as Capfka ...
#61552 03/18/02 11:05 AM
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"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



The idiot also known as Capfka ...
#61553 03/18/02 12:09 PM
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There you go, Cap K! Stuttering again!


#61554 03/18/02 12:58 PM
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Wh-wh-wh-what d-d-d-d-did you say?



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#61555 03/18/02 02:45 PM
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"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.


#61556 03/18/02 02:47 PM
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To me, may indicates a real probability. Might indicates a somewhat remote possibility.


#61557 03/18/02 06:56 PM
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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.



The idiot also known as Capfka ...
#61558 03/18/02 07:22 PM
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wwh Offline
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Dear CK: You're just more obvious about it. You should look at Max'x hints and learn how to
"Delete this Post"


#61559 03/19/02 12:31 AM
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soojin Offline OP
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(A) I might have arrived at work on time if I hadnĄŻt got caught in a traffic jam.
(B) You may arrive at work on time if you leave home early enough.

(C) I couldnĄŻt 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 IĄŻm not sure.

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



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