May Vs Might

Expert replies

goelmohit2002: Legendary Member; Posts: 1799; Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 amFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 36 times

by goelmohit2002 » Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:25 am

Hi All,

Can someone please tell....is there any difference in using "May" and "Might" in GMAT ? Is might used in past tense and may in future/present tense. Kindly share your views about:

a) Is there one that GMAT generally prefers over other? Or
b) there are any particular cases where one is preferred over other ? Or
c) there is no difference in their usage as far as GMAT is concerned.

Thanks
Mohit

Like this post

Source: Beat The GMAT — Sentence Correction | Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:25 am

Courtney: Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts; Posts: 28; Joined: Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:57 amFollowed by: 1 member; Location: Honolulu, HI; Thanked: 1 times

by Courtney » Sun Mar 15, 2009 10:55 pm

Hi Mohit,

I think that in general, "may" and "might" are interchangeable, with a few exceptions:

1) If you're speaking in the past tense, you should use "might" and not "may." For example: The economic downturn might not have occurred if there had been better government oversight of financial institutions.

2) "May" can be used to indicate permission. For example: May I use your telephone, please?

Like this post

goelmohit2002: Legendary Member; Posts: 1799; Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 amFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 36 times

by goelmohit2002 » Mon Mar 16, 2009 12:21 am

Thanks.

In the below sentences which one is correct or both are correct:

1. As many as 300 of the 720 paintings attributed to Rembrandt "may" actually be the works of his students or other admirers.
2. As many as 300 of the 720 paintings attributed to Rembrandt "might" actually be the works of his students or other admirers.

Thanks
Mohit

Like this post

delhiboy1979: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 239; Joined: Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:50 am

by delhiboy1979 » Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:10 am

I think it would be 1 which is correct solely because we are talking about the paintings being analysed in the future, so may would be correct. Might as mentioned in the earlier post would have been correct if the analysis were already complete. Lets wait for the expert opinion though.

Like this post

goelmohit2002: Legendary Member; Posts: 1799; Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 amFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 36 times

by goelmohit2002 » Mon Mar 16, 2009 8:05 am

delhiboy1979 wrote:I think it would be 1 which is correct solely because we are talking about the paintings being analysed in the future, so may would be correct.

Can you please tell how analysis is done in future here....i suppose it is present....please tell if I am wrong here...

And in present as Courtney suggested earlier....can we use may/might interchangeably ? or we can not....in this case....???

Like this post

scoobydooby: Legendary Member; Posts: 1035; Joined: Wed Aug 27, 2008 10:56 pmFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 104 times

by scoobydooby » Mon Mar 16, 2009 9:34 am

found a link on may/might

"may" indicates greater possibility than "might"

https://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/may.html

Like this post

gmat620: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 95; Joined: Thu Mar 12, 2009 2:39 am; GMAT Score:620

by gmat620 » Mon Mar 16, 2009 2:50 pm

I believe may is more assertive and is used for present tense.Moreover, I have seen on some questions that may is preferred over might. SO i think better to use may when we have both of them.

Like this post

goelmohit2002: Legendary Member; Posts: 1799; Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 amFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 36 times

by goelmohit2002 » Mon Mar 16, 2009 7:02 pm

gmat620 wrote:Moreover, I have seen on some questions that may is preferred over might.

Can you please give some example of this. There might be some other reason too....

Like this post

gmat620: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 95; Joined: Thu Mar 12, 2009 2:39 am; GMAT Score:620

by gmat620 » Tue Mar 17, 2009 12:31 am

@goelmohit2002

https://www.beatthegmat.com/sc-practice- ... 15449.html

Like this post

goelmohit2002: Legendary Member; Posts: 1799; Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 amFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 36 times

by goelmohit2002 » Tue Mar 17, 2009 12:48 am

Hi gmat620,

In the link provided, I am not 100% sure for may Vs might there.....

IMO We can kick out "E" because of "descendant from"...it is correct to say either of the following:

1. descended from
2. descendant of

So IMO there we cannot simply kick out "E" based on May Vs might.

Please tell if I am missing something here.

Please tell which one or both are correct sentences below:

1. As many as 300 of the 720 paintings attributed to Rembrandt "may" actually be the works of his students or other admirers.
2. As many as 300 of the 720 paintings attributed to Rembrandt "might" actually be the works of his students or other admirers.

Thanks
Mohit

Like this post

gmat620: Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts; Posts: 95; Joined: Thu Mar 12, 2009 2:39 am; GMAT Score:620

by gmat620 » Tue Mar 17, 2009 12:59 am

goelmohit, i didn't catch that at first..Ok, I don't remember any example as of now but as soon as i will find i will share it with everyone...here's is alink you may find useful :

https://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/may-might.aspx

Like this post

goelmohit2002: Legendary Member; Posts: 1799; Joined: Wed Dec 24, 2008 3:03 amFollowed by: 2 members; Thanked: 36 times

by goelmohit2002 » Sun Mar 22, 2009 9:59 am

goelmohit2002 wrote:
delhiboy1979 wrote:I think it would be 1 which is correct solely because we are talking about the paintings being analysed in the future, so may would be correct.
Can you please tell how analysis is done in future here....i suppose it is present....please tell if I am wrong here...

And in present as Courtney suggested earlier....can we use may/might interchangeably ? or we can not....in this case....???

Experts Kindly share your opinion.

Like this post

clawhammer: Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts; Posts: 132; Joined: Sun Aug 15, 2010 10:08 amFollowed by: 1 member; Thanked: 3 times

by clawhammer » Fri Sep 17, 2010 12:02 am

I was thinking: might actually be the works of his students or other admirers - because those works were done in the past?

Why should I not think of using the past form, when the action (works) happened in the past?
Or is the use of may/might based on the time of guessing?

Like this post

Post new topic Locked

• Page 1 of 1

GMAT Course Reviews

559 reviews

1168 reviews

431 reviews

359 reviews

147 reviews

5/5

5 Star (560 Reviews)

"Target Test Prep is the closest to the official version of the GMAT exam, about 99% accuracy in terms of the quality and quantity of information. The course has excellently created singular sets of focused lessons and tests for every possible topic that one could come across in the official GMAT exam."

"The TTP course maximizes the efficiency of the time you spend studying. It will take time and effort but I could almost guarantee that if you complete the course exactly as it is laid out you will get an amazing score. They also have a very responsive team willing to help with any questions you might have."

"TTP has two things that I think no other test prep company offers: A teaching approach that reinforces understanding and an attitude that will give you the mental preparedness needed to succeed on the test. TTP gives you a deep understanding of the concept you need to know while teaching you how to think."

Write a Review