may和might的区别和用法

may

一.表示可能性

1. We may have to take military action.
   我们可能不得不采取军事行动。

2. We may never discover what took place that night.
   我们可能永远不会知道那一夜发生了什么事。

3. You may well be right.
   你很可能是对的。

二. 礼貌的征求同意或允许

1. May I ask why you took that decision?
   我可否问一下你为什么要作出那样的决定？

2. May I come in?
   我可以进来吗？

3. Might I use your phone?
   我可以用一下你的电话吗？

三.（表示愿望）但愿，祝愿

1. May you have a very happy life!
   祝你们生活幸福美满!

2. May you succeed!
   祝你成功!

3. May the best man win
   祝愿最优秀的人获胜！

Might

一.（may的过去时，用于间接引语）可能，可以

1. They hinted there might be more job losses. 他们暗示说可能会有更多人失业。

2. She was deeply apprehensive that something might go wrong.
   她很担心可能要出什么差错。

3. I ventured to suggest that she might have made a mistake.
   我小心地提醒说她可能出了差错。

二 might所表达的可能性比may要更小

1. Don't go ─ I might need you.
   别走——我可能要你帮忙。

2. We might buy it but then again we might not.
   我们可能买，不过也可能不买。

3. He might get there in time, but I can't be sure.
   他有可能准时到达，但我不敢肯定。

三 礼貌或委婉程度不同might比may更加礼貌、委婉

1. Might I use your phone?
   我可以用一下你的电话吗？

2. Might I ask what you're doing here?
   我可不可以问一下，您在这里干什么？

3. Might I make a suggestion?
   我能否提个建议？

might / may have done

表示对过去发生/现在情况/将来某时之前的行为的推测。(might的可能性比may小)

1. -Whatever has happened to George?
   -乔治发生了什么事?
   -I don't know. He may have got lost.
   -我不知道，他可能迷路了。

2. You might have read about it in the papers.
   你可能在报上已经看过这个消息了。

3. She might have got up now.
   现在她可能已经起床了。

4. He may have left when you get there.
   等你到达的时候他可能已经离开了。