NEW HERE? LEARN MORE
closeclose
Last visit was: 29 Apr 2024, 07:22 It is currently 29 Apr 2024, 07:22
Decision Tracker
My Rewards
New posts
New comers' posts

Close
GMAT Club Daily Prep
Thank you for using the timer - this advanced tool can estimate your performance and suggest more practice questions. We have subscribed you to Daily Prep Questions via email.

Customized
for You

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History

Track
Your Progress

every week, we’ll send you an estimated GMAT score based on your performance

Practice
Pays

we will pick new questions that match your level based on your Timer History
Not interested in getting valuable practice questions and articles delivered to your email? No problem, unsubscribe here.
Go to My Error Log Learn more
Close
Request Expert Reply
Confirm Cancel

may be or might be

User avatar
S
whichscore
Intern
Intern
Joined: 24 Jul 2010
Posts: 42
Own Kudos [?]: 416 [0]
Given Kudos: 32
Concentration: Finance, Strategic Management, International Management
Send PM
may be or might be [#permalink] New post   11 Mar 2011, 10:09
00:00
A
B
C
D
E

Difficulty:

(N/A)

Question Stats:

100% (02:47) correct 0% (00:00) wrong based on 1 sessions
Hide Show timer Statistics
anyone to explain the difference between "may be" and "might be" ?
It would be very helpful :-D



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Sentence Correction (EA only) Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block below for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
User avatar
bryantmichaels
Veritas Prep Admissions Consultant
Joined: 25 Jul 2010
Affiliations: Veritas Prep
Posts: 1910
Own Kudos [?]: 186 [1]
Given Kudos: 3
Send PM
Re: may be or might be [#permalink] New post   11 Mar 2011, 11:01
1
Kudos
Expert Reply
Essentially there is no difference--they are synonyms and can be interchanged. There "may be" some colloquial subtleties in which the phrase "might be" is perceived as less definitive (in that there is in some way a smaller chance of something being true. The phrase "may be" can sometimes imply that the speaker has no idea, but when using "might be" it can sometimes imply that they have an idea or inkling about the outcome.
User avatar
S
whichscore
Intern
Intern
Joined: 24 Jul 2010
Posts: 42
Own Kudos [?]: 416 [0]
Given Kudos: 32
Concentration: Finance, Strategic Management, International Management
Send PM
Re: may be or might be [#permalink] New post   11 Mar 2011, 16:24
bryantmichaels wrote:
Essentially there is no difference--they are synonyms and can be interchanged. There "may be" some colloquial subtleties in which the phrase "might be" is perceived as less definitive (in that there is in some way a smaller chance of something being true. The phrase "may be" can sometimes imply that the speaker has no idea, but when using "might be" it can sometimes imply that they have an idea or inkling about the outcome.


thank you for this clear answer.
Could you please explain your answer to the following question ?

According to scientists at the University of California, the pattern of changes that have
occurred in human DNA over the millennia indicate the possibility that everyone alive
today might be descended from a single female ancestor who lived in Africa sometime
between 140,000 and 280,000 years ago.
(A) indicate the possibility that everyone alive today might be descended from a single
female ancestor who
(B) indicate that everyone alive today might possibly be a descendant of a single female
ancestor who had
(C) may indicate that everyone alive today has descended from a single female ancestor
who had
(D) indicates that everyone alive today may be a descendant of a single female ancestor
who
(E) indicates that everyone alive today might be a descendant from a single female
ancestor who
User avatar
heygirl
Senior Manager
Senior Manager
Joined: 18 Oct 2010
Posts: 362
Own Kudos [?]: 196 [0]
Given Kudos: 115
 Q39  V20
GPA: 3.5
Send PM
Reviews Badge
Re: may be or might be [#permalink] New post   12 Mar 2011, 07:36
ok, this is how I arrived at d:

"pattern of changes" is singular. Hence, rule out a,b and c. Then between d and e , e has an idiom error "descendent from". it should be "descendent of". Hence, d
User avatar
S
whichscore
Intern
Intern
Joined: 24 Jul 2010
Posts: 42
Own Kudos [?]: 416 [0]
Given Kudos: 32
Concentration: Finance, Strategic Management, International Management
Send PM
Re: may be or might be [#permalink] New post   12 Mar 2011, 07:39
excellent ! In hurry, I actually missed this subtile idiom...
User avatar
maddy2u
Manager
Manager
Joined: 04 Dec 2009
Status:I am Midnight's Child !
Posts: 62
Own Kudos [?]: 387 [0]
Given Kudos: 11
GPA: 8.7
WE 1: Software Design and Development
Send PM
Re: may be or might be [#permalink] New post   12 Mar 2011, 14:10
yes. the answer should be definitely D for that one.



Archived Topic
Hi there,
This topic has been closed and archived due to inactivity or violation of community quality standards. No more replies are possible here.
Where to now? Join ongoing discussions on thousands of quality questions in our Sentence Correction (EA only) Forum
Still interested in this question? Check out the "Best Topics" block above for a better discussion on this exact question, as well as several more related questions.
Thank you for understanding, and happy exploring!
GMAT Club Bot
gmatclubot
Re: may be or might be [#permalink]
12 Mar 2011, 14:10
Moderators:
GMATNinja
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
6923 posts
GMATNinjaTwo
GMAT Club Verbal Expert
238 posts
MikeScarn
Current Student
278 posts

Powered by phpBB © phpBB Group | Emoji artwork provided by EmojiOne
Main navigation
GMAT Resources
Partners
MBA Resources
www.gmac.com|www.mba.com | | GMAT Club Rules | Terms and Conditions