BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem

May be OR Might be

This topic has expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 62
Joined: Fri Jul 13, 2007 2:06 pm

May be OR Might be

by chatekar » Tue Jul 17, 2007 10:31 am
This is from GMATTER

According to scientists at the University of California, the pattern of changes that have occurred in human DNA over the millennia indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single female ancestor who lived in Africa sometime between 140,000 and 280,000 years ago.

A) indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single female ancestor who

B) indicate that everyone alive today might possibly be a descendant of a single female ancestor who had

C) may indicate that everyone alive today has descended from a single female ancestor who had

D) indicates that everyone alive today may be a descendant of a single female ancestor who

E) indicates that everyone alive today might be a descendant of a single female ancestor who

I know that answer is one of D and E. But I’m confused with the usage of “may be” and “might be”. Can anyone please advice which one is correct in the above scenario?

It would be great if someone also tells what are the rules for when to use “may” and when to use “might”

Thanks
Top
Source: — Sentence Correction |
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 31
Joined: Thu Jun 21, 2007 9:03 pm
Location: Chennai

Re: May be OR Might be

by Shadow » Wed Jul 18, 2007 1:27 am
chatekar wrote:This is from GMATTER

According to scientists at the University of California, the pattern of changes that have occurred in human DNA over the millennia indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single female ancestor who lived in Africa sometime between 140,000 and 280,000 years ago.

A) indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single female ancestor who

B) indicate that everyone alive today might possibly be a descendant of a single female ancestor who had

C) may indicate that everyone alive today has descended from a single female ancestor who had

D) indicates that everyone alive today may be a descendant of a single female ancestor who

E) indicates that everyone alive today might be a descendant of a single female ancestor who

I know that answer is one of D and E. But I’m confused with the usage of “may be” and “might be”. Can anyone please advice which one is correct in the above scenario?

It would be great if someone also tells what are the rules for when to use “may” and when to use “might”

Thanks

I will go for D.

Regarding the usage, may is used when refering to something taking place in the present and might is used in past tense.

I guess i conveyed the answer for your question.
Top
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 5
Joined: Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:38 am

by kishorenagr » Wed Jul 18, 2007 6:41 am
May and might are used to talk about present or future events. They can normally be used interchangeably, although might may suggest a smaller chance of something happening. eg:

I may go into town tomorrow for the winter sales. And Krish might come with me!
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 231
Joined: Thu Apr 12, 2007 2:45 am
Thanked: 5 times
Followed by:1 members

by winnerhere » Sat Jul 21, 2007 5:14 am
whats the answer?
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 75
Joined: Tue Jun 12, 2007 5:35 am
Thanked: 2 times

by hopefully » Fri Jul 27, 2007 2:08 am
I wud go 4 E..

dont have an explanation though .. just feel good ...

whats the OA?

Moderators .. help !!!
Top
User avatar
Community Manager
Posts: 789
Joined: Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:51 pm
Location: Silicon valley, California
Thanked: 30 times
Followed by:1 members

by jayhawk2001 » Fri Jul 27, 2007 6:57 am
May is used in the present tense to indicate that something is
likely to happen

Might indicates that something is even less likely to happen

In this particular question, I don't think we can distinguish based
on may or might. Can someone please check D and E. I vaguely
recall distinguishing between "descendant of" and "descendant from"
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 2469
Joined: Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:09 pm
Location: BtG Underground
Thanked: 85 times
Followed by:14 members

by aim-wsc » Fri Jul 27, 2007 10:06 am
may be a person who lived.....

might be a person who had lived....

GO with D
jayhawk2001 wrote:May is used in the present tense to indicate that something is
likely to happen

Might indicates that something is even less likely to happen

In this particular question, I don't think we can distinguish based
on may or might. Can someone please check D and E. I vaguely
recall distinguishing between "descendant of" and "descendant from"
"descendant of" or "descended from"

both correct. :)

"descendant from" or "descended of"
both wrong :(
Top
Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 2
Joined: Mon Aug 06, 2007 3:33 am

by magicmover » Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:42 am
I think its E...
Can anyone suggest wats the correct answer
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 217
Joined: Tue May 31, 2011 9:42 pm
Thanked: 8 times
Followed by:2 members

by garima99 » Thu Oct 13, 2011 9:55 am
+1 for D
Top
Legendary Member
Posts: 627
Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:12 am
Thanked: 4 times
Followed by:1 members

by mankey » Thu Oct 13, 2011 10:39 am
Can we have some expert helping us, please?

Thanks
Mankey
Top
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 1665
Joined: Thu Nov 03, 2011 7:04 pm
Thanked: 165 times
Followed by:70 members

by karthikpandian19 » Wed Jun 06, 2012 1:02 am
To start with go ahead with the 3-2 split, of "indicate" & "indicates". The subject is the singular "pattern of changes" hence the verb shld be "indicates", so eliminate A B C

From D & E, it's between :- May Vs Might

May - more likely (more probability)
Might - less likely (less probability)

According to scientists at the University of California, the pattern of changes that have occurred in human DNA over the millennia indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single female ancestor who lived in Africa sometime between 140,000 and 280,000 years ago.

D) indicates that everyone alive today may be a descendant of a single female ancestor who
E) indicates that everyone alive today might be a descendant of a single female ancestor who

so for this sentence, it should be "may" as there is more likeliness

When you are uncertain what has happened and are making a guess, then you may want to use "may": "I think he may have thought I would really like an oil change for my birthday."

Also,
"might" is the past tense of the auxiliary verb "may," and is required in sentences like "He might have avoided arrest for the robbery if ........" When speculating that events might have been other than they were, don't substitute "may" for "might."

Is my reasoning right? please confirm experts
chatekar wrote:This is from GMATTER

According to scientists at the University of California, the pattern of changes that have occurred in human DNA over the millennia indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single female ancestor who lived in Africa sometime between 140,000 and 280,000 years ago.

A) indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single female ancestor who

B) indicate that everyone alive today might possibly be a descendant of a single female ancestor who had

C) may indicate that everyone alive today has descended from a single female ancestor who had

D) indicates that everyone alive today may be a descendant of a single female ancestor who

E) indicates that everyone alive today might be a descendant of a single female ancestor who

I know that answer is one of D and E. But I�m confused with the usage of �may be� and �might be�. Can anyone please advice which one is correct in the above scenario?

It would be great if someone also tells what are the rules for when to use �may� and when to use �might�

Thanks
Regards,
Karthik
The source of the questions that i post from JUNE 2013 is from KNEWTON

---If you find my post useful, click "Thank" :) :)---
---Never stop until cracking GMAT---
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 222
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2011 1:06 pm
Thanked: 19 times
Followed by:1 members

by abcgmat » Wed Jun 06, 2012 1:42 am
According to scientists at the University of California, the pattern of changes that have occurred in human DNA over the millennia indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single female ancestor who lived in Africa sometime between 140,000 and 280,000 years ago.
A) indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single female ancestor who
B) indicate that everyone alive today might possibly be a descendant of a single female ancestor who had
C) may indicate that everyone alive today has descended from a single female ancestor who had
D) indicates that everyone alive today may be a descendant of a single female ancestor who
E) indicates that everyone alive today might be a descendant of a single female ancestor who


The pattern of changes is singular (as pattern is singular). So A,B, C out
Also 'descended from' is Incorrect and 'descendant of' is correct when you refer to ancestor or evolution
There is a question OG12 which is based on descended , descendent of usage (Elephant is descended....)

D, E
I know Might is a past tense of May.
I will go with D as May could represent a General Truth and also the other verb is 'have' is in present tense. i think there is not need to change tense
What is the OA
Top
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 222
Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2011 1:06 pm
Thanked: 19 times
Followed by:1 members

by abcgmat » Wed Jun 06, 2012 1:49 am
I checked the other forums and the answer is D.
Top
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 148
Joined: Sun Apr 29, 2012 1:08 pm
Thanked: 8 times

by jimmyjimmy » Sat Jun 16, 2012 11:41 pm
may or might.....
jst wanted to get the thread in front so could hv xprts opinion
Top
Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 90
Joined: Wed Mar 21, 2012 1:27 am
Thanked: 5 times
Followed by:2 members

by sandeep_thaparianz » Sun Jun 17, 2012 4:20 am
Ans is D
It is a command subjunctive in which we use bare form

Format for command subjunctive
Bossy verb + That + subject + command subjunctive( may)
Top
Post new topic Locked