[Nibile]

 
I just realized that I made a mistake there, as "might" is just the past of "may" and not also the conditional.
I've never fully understood its use.
Also, even the meaning is out of context in my post, meaning permission and not possibility, right?

Same as for "could". I've always thought that both "might" and "could" had two meanings: simple past and present conditional. Is this true?
I'm getting very confused.
Examples.
- I can go now, I'm finished. Present.
- I could do one armers years ago. Past.
- I could go to the Tor tomorrow. Conditional?
Is this right?
Examples with "may" and "might"?

Ps. Mods feel free to split and replace.

[jwi]

I suspect that you are temporarily confused; just recall that can and may are modal verbs.

On topic: does shopping for the lightest underpants available at H&M count?

[Nibile]

I suspect that you are temporarily confused; just recall that can and may are modal verbs.

I'm even more confused now...
What do you mean?

[nik at work]

To be fair English is my first (and only) language and I have no fucking idea what either of you are talking about...

[kingholmesy]

@ Nibs.

A modal verb is an auxiliary verb that expresses necessity or possibility. English modal verbs include must, shall, will, should, would, can, could, may, and might.

There’s not much difference between may and might.

May expresses that something is possible, perhaps even likely.

Might expresses that something is possible, but maybe unlikely.

May can also be used to give permission.

Finally, I don’t think most people would use might as the past tense of may.  You would say might have, or may have.

Does any of that make sense?

[Nibile]

Eureka.
Cheers man, that's very helpful thanks.
I didn't know that "might" is another verb, I only knew it as the past of "may".
So, in the other thread I might have done the phrase right!
;-)

[Oldmanmatt]

I’m not sure about any of this.

You may be right, you might be wrong; I couldn’t be certain.

It’s a mighty tough question.

However, if I may, if I might, could I suggest, it might not matter (though it may) and I couldn’t care less (unless I was a Yank, in which case I might say “could care less”).

You may find this hard to believe, but English  might not be the most logical language.

[tomtom]

Is this thread a tribute to our nearly ex prime minister? 😂

[Nibile]

You may find this hard to believe, but English  might not be the most logical language.

This thought makes me shiver with terror.

[Ru]

"May" is also often used in a legal context (statutes, rules etc) to mean an act that is optional. "Shall" or "must" are the non-optional commands.

[Offwidth]

Must we stoop to that? I'd rather think of May as when I might want to climb most.

[Oldmanmatt]

Must we stoop to that? I'd rather think of May as when I might want to climb most.

You might, but we may not...

Then again, it could be we might.

[tomtom]

what about mightnt...

[fried]

Will 100% might/may 50% won't 0% - probability ( in your opinion)

Could - possibility (anything is possible)

Might/may - first conditional
Could - all conditionals

Simplish answer

[kingholmesy]

Is this thread a tribute to our nearly ex prime minister? 😂

May might have been a good Prime Minister, but it was always unlikely.

[Fiend]

There is only MIGHT

(for Nibile especially)

[Johnny Brown]

"May" is also often used in a legal context (statutes, rules etc) to mean an act that is optional. "Shall" or "must" are the non-optional commands.

In the standards world 'may' may be used in this manner but they prefer that 'should' should be used where it is a recommendation.

Nibs, most of us are of a generation who were purposefully only taught a bare minimum of English grammar. Despite doing 5 years of Latin it is still all Greek to me.

[Nibile]

 
Cheers guys, much appreciated!

[andy_e]

There is not might and may, only do.