Cool MateIt might vs May
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
It might
Top 1,000 (very common)
May
Top 1,000 (very common)A2
| It might | May | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ɪt maɪt//🇺🇸 //ɪt maɪt// | 🇬🇧 /["/meɪ/","/ˈmeɪ nɒt/","/ˈmeɪənt/","/maɪt/","/ˈmaɪt nɒt/","/ˈmaɪtnt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/meɪ/","/ˈmeɪ nɑːt/","/ˈmeɪənt/","/maɪt/","/ˈmaɪt nɑːt/","/ˈmaɪtnt/"]/ |
| Meaning | It could possibly be true or happen. | A month in spring. |
| Example | It might rain later, so take an umbrella. | We may go to the park if it stops raining. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A2 |
| Collocations | It might rain, It might happen, It might be true, It might work, It might be better | in May, May flowers, May vacation, May day, May calendar |
| Antonyms | - | June, December |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'it may' which is more formal, Using 'might' in certain future contexts instead of 'may', Not using 'it might' with a verb, e.g. 'It might a storm' instead of 'It might rain'. | Confused with the auxiliary verb 'may', especially in questions., Incorrectly capitalizing 'may' when used in sentences as a verb., Saying 'in May month' instead of just 'in May'. |
| Usage notes | Used to express possibility. Common in spoken and written contexts but less formal than alternatives like 'it may'. | Use 'May' when talking about the month in a date or events, but do not confuse with 'might', which expresses possibility. |
See it in real clips
Frequently asked questions: It might vs May
What's the difference between It might and May?
It might: It could possibly be true or happen. May: A month in spring.
Can you show an example of each?
It might: It might rain later, so take an umbrella. May: We may go to the park if it stops raining.
Can I use It might and May interchangeably?
Not always. It might and May are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.