may have and simple past

[castaway]

If I assume someone asked a question to someone, do I say like?:

He may have asked,"....."

or just

He probably asked."...."

[Josef Essberger]

If I assume someone asked a question to someone, do I say like?:

1. He may have asked,"....."

or just

2. He probably asked."...."

Both are possible but #2 is more subjective because "probably" suggests that you think it is likely. Other, less subjective ways would be:

He possibly asked
Perhaps he asked

These two are similar to #1.