The modal verb may
The modal verb may has two forms:
may for the present tense, might for the past tense. All the missing forms are supplied by “to be allowed to”, “to be permitted to”. The form may can be used with reference to the future: It may rain tomorrow.
The form might is used in two ways: a) as the form of the past tense (mainly in indirect speech): He said I might smoke there; b) as the form of subjunctive mood in the present-time contexts as a mild or more polite way of may: Might I come and see you? He might have fallen ill if he hadn’t taken the pills.
Might is rarely used as a past tense of the Indicative mood. It is usually the form of the Subjunctive mood. To indicate the past-time reference (Indicative mood) the synonymous expressions to be allowed, to be permitted to are used.
The modal verb may has the following meanings:
Supposition, uncertainty (возможно,вероятно).
He may be busy now getting ready for his trip.
The form might implies greater uncertainty: He might be at home now.
In this meaning may occurs in affirmative and negative sentences: He may not know about it. She may not be waiting for you now.
May in this meaning is combined with any form of the infinitive: simple, perfect, continuous, perfect, perfect - continuous: It’s too late to phone him now. He may be sleeping. I never see him about now. He might have fallen ill. Let’s hurry. He may have been waiting for us an hour.
With the verbs that do not admit of the continuous form the indefinite infinitive, common aspect is used with reference to the present: He may be ill now. They might not know about it.
Possibility of performing an action because nothing hinders (possibility due to circumstances).
You may order a taxi by phone. You may see him every morning walking his dog.
Here either a definite or an indefinite article may be used.
May in this meaning occurs only in affirmative sentences and is followed by the simple (non-perfect) infinitive. The form might is used only in indirect speech in accordance with the rules of the sequence of tenses: He said we might order a taxi by telephone.
permission
May in this meaning is found in affirmative and interrogative sentences expressing a request. In negative sentences it denotes prohibition: You may smoke in here. May I come in ? May I speak to you ? You may not smoke in this room.
In this meaning may is combined only with the simple infinitive.
Might is also found to express a more polite request: Might I join you ?
disapproval, reproach (упрек,неодобрение)
Here we find only the form might followed by a perfect or a non-perfect infinitive: You might have given me a lift.
may, might is used in the following set phrases :
May as well (might as well/might just as well) + infinitive is a very mild way of expressing intention. It is used to suggest or recommend an action: I may as well take the child along with me. – Я, пожалуй, возьму ребенка с собой.
You might just as well not go there.- C таким успехом ты мог не ходить туда.
It might have been worse – могло бы быть и хуже.
He might have been a…
He might have been taken for a … .
Roy Wilson, a new doctor, was twenty-eight large, heavy, nature and blond hair. He might have been a Scandinavian sailor.
If I may say so – если можно так сказать (выразиться)
If I may so, I think you have treated him badly.
May might occur in object clauses after expressions of fear, and in adverbial clauses of purpose and concession:
I fear he may fall ill. However cold it might be, we’ll go skating. I opened the window so that it may not be stuffy in the room.