Question
Updated on
30 Nov 2022
- Korean
-
English (US)
Question about English (US)
Does this sentence refer to the past?
- "he might say that word."
Does this sentence refer to the past?
- "he might say that word."
- "he might say that word."
Answers
Read more comments
- Japanese
- English (US)
It is pointing in the future, stating a possibility that “he might say that word.”
Highly-rated answerer
- Korean
Thank you
But, isn't "might" a past form of "may"?
Is it never used talking about the past?
But, isn't "might" a past form of "may"?
Is it never used talking about the past?
- Japanese
- English (US)
You can still use it in the past tense like such:
‘They might have left yesterday’
but you can also use both when stating a possibility which is future tense.
Highly-rated answerer
- Korean
Um, do these two sentences have no chance to be the same in meaning in any cases?
- He might have said that word.
- He might say that word.
- He might have said that word.
- He might say that word.
- English (US)
"May" technically has no past or future tense, but "may have" can be used to describe things in the past.
"May" is used to describe things that could exist, but do not definitely exist.
"I may be busy tomorrow." = "It is possible that I will be busy tomorrow."
"He may have left it at home." = "It is possible that he left it at home."
I think in British English, "might" is sometimes used for describing past situations, ex: "I asked if I might help." But an American would be more likely to use "could" in that sentence. In American English, "may" and "might" are synonyms when talking about possible things. "May" is also used when asking for permission to do things: "May I ask a question?"
Highly-rated answerer
- English (US)
@hhoc2000 "He might have said that word." = "It is possible that he said that word in the past."
"He might say that word." = "It is possible that he says or will say that word."
Highly-rated answerer
- Korean

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