Might-May / help

Might-May / help
Message from shaaraf posted on 25-03-2013 at 18:47:18 (D | E | F)
Hello,

Can you tell me please?
"Might he be late?"
Questions with "might" are not common, but grammatically is correct.
But,question with "May" he be late?(Is it right?)
Waiting for your replies...!thank you.

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Edited by lucile83 on 25-03-2013 19:10

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Re: Might-May / help from gerondif, posted on 25-03-2013 at 19:28:38 (D | E)
Hello,
"May he be late ?" , and "Might he be late? are grammatically correct but the meaning is not clear, it sounds awkward.

May either means "can" /"to be allowed to" (May I leave my bag ? Might I have a word with you ?) or implies an eventuality:

He may come (one chance out of two)
He might come (one chance out of four)

"May he be late ?" can mean: Is he allowed to be late ?

"Might he be late?" can mean: Do you think that he could be late, is it a remote eventuality ?

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Re: Might-May / help from shaaraf, posted on 25-03-2013 at 20:30:10 (D | E)
Thank you...

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Re: Might-May / help from djohrahocine, posted on 25-03-2013 at 20:51:13 (D | E)
Hello,
It's important to mention that"may" is more formal than"can".
However,"might" is more formal and more polite than"may".
Here is an interesting link about may and might:
Link

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