To me, the second page of this post is more important than the first, because a lot of people get it wrong. Might is the past tense of may. If you’re narrating in past tense, the correct phrasing is “he might have got it wrong”, not “he may have got it wrong”. The second version shifts the narration into the present tense with a wrench.
Originally shared by Grammar Girl
There is a difference.
Sigh. Reason number 237 why I need a good editor. (And hire one)
Sigh. Reason number 237 why I need a good editor. (And hire one)
And this is also a good example of why “present” and “past” and “tense” cause issues with people’s speech and writing, and why knowing about syntax is important.
Yes, “might” is the past tense of “may,” BUT we say “It might rain tomorrow” when we mean “there’s a chance it’ll rain.” We’re not speaking in the past, we’re speaking in the future. But we use past tense to indicate it. That’s “epistemic modality.” (And that’s syntax, not grammar.)
And this is also a good example of why “present” and “past” and “tense” cause issues with people’s speech and writing, and why knowing about syntax is important.
Yes, “might” is the past tense of “may,” BUT we say “It might rain tomorrow” when we mean “there’s a chance it’ll rain.” We’re not speaking in the past, we’re speaking in the future. But we use past tense to indicate it. That’s “epistemic modality.” (And that’s syntax, not grammar.)
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