may与might的区别:
1、语法形式上
might在语法形式上,是may的过去式。所以,如果要表达对现在或未来的猜测的话,一般要用may;而要表达对过去的猜测的话,则要用might。
2、可能性的大小不一样
一般来说,may所表达的可能性比might要更大。如:
They mayvisit Ireland in the near future.
这句话说明说话者认为他们还是比较有可能在不久的将来去爱尔兰的。
The woman looked as if she might have been in her late 40s.
这句话说明说话者并没有什么把握确定这位女士的年龄,只是做了个尝试性的猜测而已。
需要注意的是,如果只是做假设性的猜测的话,还是建议多用might。如果是在虚拟语气中,肯定要用might。
3、间接引语中
在间接引语中,may要改为might。如:
直接引语:She said,“I may go out of business."
间接引语:She said she might go out of business.
4、当要表达不满或批评时
如果要表示“本可以怎么样”,以此来表达说话者的不满或批评时,一般要用might,而不是may。
5、礼貌或委婉程度不一样
如果要提出问题、请求或建议时,might比may更加礼貌、委婉。如:
Don't you think you mightbe a little old for him?
MightI ask the Court to glance briefly at the judgment of Sir Harry Gibbs?
6、当要表达祝愿或希望时
may一般常用来表达祝愿或希望,但might不行。如:
7、表许可时
①.当要征询许可时,may或might都可以,但是might如今被认为过于正式。而may又比can更显得有礼貌、更委婉。
②.当要给予或拒绝别人许可时,则只能用may或can,不能用might。
may主要有三种用法:
1、表示可能性(to talk about a possible situation),如:
Those reports may prove to be false.
The chorus may look silly, but they sound wonderful.
2、表示请求许可(to politely give or ask for permission to do something),如:
May we come in?
That's all for now, you may go.
3、表达祝愿或希望(to express a wish or hope),如:
May they be very happy in the future.
May you succeed in the coming year.