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Might

 Can / Could / Dare / Have to / May / Might / Must / Need (to) / Ought to / Shall / Should / Use(d) to / Will / Would

 Modal Verbs Home

Review Modal verbs by function here

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Possibility

Permission

Suggestions

Criticism

Reporting May


Function

Possibility

We use "Might" to express a slight or weak possibility. 


Perhaps we shouldn't eat at the curry house, your guests might not like spicy food


We might be able to afford a trip to the beach if I get paid in time. 


We use "Might" + have + participle to express such possibilities that did not come to pass in the past:


We might have been able to afford a holiday but I didn't get paid.


Permission

"Might" can be used in a very formal way to make enquiries or ask permission. It is much more common to use can, could or may.


Might I ask where you bought that shirt?


Might I enquire as to his whereabouts?


Suggestions

We can use "Might" to give advice or make suggestions sound more polite, especially when used with verbs such as "like", "prefer" or "want":


You might like to reconsider your course of action


He might want to try our home delivery service


Criticism

We use "Might" + have + participle to express criticism or disapproval of an action


You might have told us you were not coming for Christmas


He might have tried to explain how he felt rather than simply leaving


Reporting "May"

When we report speech, some verbs are changed. "May" is reported as "Might"


"She may have had a change of heart" siad Brian.


Reported as:


Brian said she might have had a change of heart,

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