So I have been doing some reading on the terms epistemic and deontic, and I understand them for the present and future, but for the past tense, I prefer the following (found on Bartleby.com): Kenneth G. Wilson (1923–). The Columbia Guide to Standard American English. 1993. may, might (*auxs.*) For events in the present or immediate future, use either *may* or *might* (*I may* [*might*] *decide to go after all*), but for past time, most Standard users still prefer only * might,* as in *Yesterday I might have decided to stay home,* not the increasingly encountered *Yesterday I may have decided to stay home.*Journalese is now peppered with *may* where until recently *might* has been solidly entrenched. See also CAN (1) <http://www.bartleby.com/68/95/1095.html>; COULD<http://www.bartleby.com/68/27/1527.html>; SEQUENCE OF TENSES <http://www.bartleby.com/68/97/5397.html>. Jane Saral On Feb 16, 2008 12:54 PM, STAHLKE, HERBERT F <[log in to unmask]> wrote: > Carole, > > > > That works for me. I had overlooked the deontic/epistemic contrast in > modals. Your epistemic reading fits. > > > > Herb > > > > *From:* Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [mailto: > [log in to unmask]] *On Behalf Of *Carole Hurlbut > *Sent:* 2008-02-16 11:24 > *To:* [log in to unmask] > *Subject:* Re: May and might > > > > My interpretation deals with the probability involved. *May* would yield a > stronger probability while *might* would express more doubt. > > > > Carole Hurlbut > > ----- Original Message ----- > > *From:* Jane Saral <[log in to unmask]> > > *To:* [log in to unmask] > > *Sent:* Saturday, February 16, 2008 9:59 AM > > *Subject:* May and might > > > > In this morning's Atlanta Journal Costitution is the following head and > subhead: > > > > Study: Slow decisions hurt help for Marines > > Tougher truck may have saved troops > > > > I would say that the word *might* should have been used, since they were > not saved. *May* seems to me appropriate only if they were saved and one > is speculating as to why. > > > > Is that a correct assumption? And could someone explain the differences > between the two forms? > > > > Jane Saral > > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface > at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or > leave the list" > > Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ > > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface > at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or > leave the list" > > Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web > interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select > "Join or leave the list" > > Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/ > To join or leave this LISTSERV list, please visit the list's web interface at: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/ateg.html and select "Join or leave the list" Visit ATEG's web site at http://ateg.org/