Might it is a modal verb (modal verb) whose meaning may vary according to the sentence where it is applied. Sometimes it has the sense of to owe or power.
Examples:
- They might have told me. (They must have told me.)
- I might not like the movie. (I might not like the movie.)
However, sentences with might they can also be translated with the help of other words and phrases such as "maybe", "maybe" and "it's likely".
Examples:
- he might know my father. (Maybe he knows my father.)
- she might arrive late. (Maybe she's late.)
- You might like my new house. (You'll probably like my new house.)
So, as with all modal verbs, the might performs the function of verb assistant, accompanies a main verb and influences its meaning.
Note what the first sentence would look like without the influence of the modal verb sense: there would be no indication of possibility.
They have told me. (They told me.)
They might have told me. (They must have told me.)
When to use the might verb?
Might is used to indicate the idea of possibility, permission, deduction, order or suggestion. Check out some example sentences with might.
- It might rain tomorrow. (It should rain tomorrow.) – Possibility
- Might I borrow your calculator?(Can I borrow your calculator?) – Permission
- he might call me later. (He should call me later.) – Deduction
- Might we have something to drink? (Can we drink something?) – Order
- You might consider taking English classes. (You should consider taking English classes.) – Suggestion
How to use the might verb?
The verb might can be used in sentences affirmatives, negative and interrogatives.
Check the table below for the conjugation.
| AFFIRMATIVE | NEGATIVE | INTERROGATIVE |
|---|---|---|
I might study |
I might not/mightn't study |
Might I study? |
| You might study | You might not/mightn't study | Might you study? |
| He/she/it might study | He/she/it might not/mightn't study | Might he/she/it study? |
| We might study | We might not/mightn't study | Might we study? |
| You might study | You might not/mightn't study | Might you study? |
| they might study | They might not/mightn't study | Might they study? |
IMPORTANT
- O might is the form used for all verbal people, including he/she/it. the rule of Simple Present which requires the addition of -s in third person singular inflections is not applied here because the modal verbs are not inflected.
- In negative sentences, we can use might not or the contracted form mightn't. The two possibilities have the same meaning.
- To follow the structure of question formation in English, the verb might must be placed before the subject whenever the sentence is interrogative.
- Whenever indicating present or future tense, this main verb must be used in the infinitive without the to. Example: she might arrive late. (She must be late.) - to arrive (to arrive) is the main verb.
- When indicating past tense, the modal might is accompanied by the verb have + past participle of the main verb. Example: She might have arrived late. (She must have been late.) - arrived is the past participle of to arrive (to arrive).
Difference between may and might
Check out the cases that usually cause more questions and know when to use may or might.
Possibility in the present and the future
May it is used when there is a greater possibility that the referred fact will happen.
Might it is used when the possibility of a certain thing happening is smaller; when the situation is hypothetical; based on speculation.
Examples:
- I may go to the beach tomorrow. (I must go to the beach tomorrow.)
- If Bob and Michael hurry, they might arrive on time. (If Bob and Michael hurry, they should be on time.)
Note that in the comic below, Charlie Brown uses modal verbs may and might.
In the first sentence, when it says they say it may snow again tonight. (They say it may snow again tonight.) Charlie Brown uses the verb may, for there is a greater possibility that the matter referred to (the chance of snowing) will occur. He might know from some weather forecast, for example.
In the second sentence, when he says I just thought you might like to be prepared. (I thought maybe you might want to be prepared.), he uses the verb might, for the possibility that the hypothetical situation will become real is reduced. That is, he thinks his friend might want to be prepared for when the snow falls (if it does!), but that idea is just a guess.
Possibility in the past
the modal verb might can also be used as past of may.
Therefore, if you identify that the tense of a sentence is inflected in the past, it is recommended to use might, and not from may.
Examples:
- She might have come earlier, but I wasn’t here yet. (She must have come earlier, but I wasn't here yet.)
- That decision might have offended many people. (That decision must have offended a lot of people.)
Although this distinction is a recommendation in many grammars of the English language, the truth is that it is rarely applied in the current usage of English.
Therefore, it would not be surprising to find the above sentences written in the following wayThe:
- She may have come earlier, but I wasn’t here yet. (She must have come earlier, but I wasn't here yet.)
- That decision may have offended many people. (That decision must have offended a lot of people.)
Formal and informal permission
When requesting permission in a situation of greater formality, it is more common to use might.
Examples:
- May I come in, Jeff? (May I come in, Jeff?) - INFORMAL
- Might I take part in the meeting? (Can I attend the meeting?) - FORMAL
Video about the verb might
Watch the video and see a summary of using might.
Exercises on the verb might
Do the exercises below to consolidate what you have learned about using might.
I. She told me she ______________ eats, but she wasn’t sure.
a) may
b) might
Correct answer: b) might
Although both options are used to express possibility, might indicates greater uncertainty.
the excerpt but she wasnt sure (but she wasn't sure) shows that the possibility of a given situation happening is less.
See how the filled sentence looks like:
she told me she might eat, but she wasn’t sure. (She told me she should come, but she wasn't sure.)
II. Indicate which option indicates the same as the sentence below.
It’s possible that they don’t study here any longer.
a) They mightn’t study here any longer.
b) They can’t study here any longer.
Correct alternative: They might not study here any longer.
The phrase It’s possible that they don’t study here any longer. (It is possible that they no longer study here.) indicates the possibility that the subjects of the sentence no longer study in a certain place.
Mightn’t is the negative form of might, modal verb used to indicate possibility, usually translated as “should not”.
Can’t is the negative form of can, modal verb used to indicate the ability/ability that someone has to do something, usually translated as “can't” or “can't”.
See the meaning of the correct option:
they might not study here any longer. (They shouldn't study here anymore.)
III. Rewrite the sentence below using the modal verb might.
It’s possible that they forget to phone her.
Correct answer: they might forget to phone her.
To form sentences in the affirmative with might, we use the main verb in the infinitive without the I'm.
The main verb of the sentence is I'mforget (to forget).
Like might, by itself, already indicates a possibility, we can eliminate the excerpt It's possible that (it is possible that).
So, just position the might after the subject they (they) and before the main verb in the infinitive without the I'm (forget).
They might forget to phone her. (They must forget to call her.)
Interested in learning more about English verbs? Be sure to check the texts below:
- Verb to have: conjugation, examples and exercises
- Phrasal verbs: types and lists complete with translation
- The 20 most used phrasal verbs in English
- Simple Past: when to use, training and exercises with feedback
- Ought to: how to use, tips and exercises
- Should: when to use, conjugation and template exercises
