We use might when we are not sure about something in the present or future: I might see you tomorrow. I'm not sure what tense this is and whether I have used it correctly. English language reference including definitions of English grammar Could + have is often shortened into “coulda” when speaking but not in writing. Is there any difference in usage, meaning, connotation, style, etc. Also includes check out the. It might not rain this afternoon. the classroom. She usually leaves her house before 11 o’clock so I deduce that she has definitely left the house. could, may : might conditional of may: 1. English language resources for English learners and teachers to help By continuing to use our website without changing your settings, we assume you are happy to receive these cookies. May / might / could have: expressing past probability: Structure: modal + have + past participle may have been, could have gone, might have lost, etc. ; They might win the competition. Alternative form of been there, done that, bought the T-shirt. 1. She might get a ride from Bill. "might have": we believe it's possible that the action happened, but we don't know. My telephone stopped working the battery might have died. tips, exam tips and help with study skills. It's quite bright. The road might have been blocked. It could also be used to say that something was true in the past. We use may have, could have, might have to say that it was possible that something happened in the past (but we are not 100% sure). The real situation and result: I didn’t know about the traffic problem so I am imagining the possibility of taking a different route if I had known. Then it might not have been like thisI would say this looks very much like the 3rd conditional structure which means: If you had come at different time, things might/ may not have been like this. For example, He might have called earlier, but I was not home. When do we use might and might not?. You did not show up in our last week's gathering. Learn how to use may have and might have to talk about past possibility in this advanced grammar lesson. If you want to learn English grammar or grow your vocabulary then these resources will help you with your studies. day. So would of is would have, could of is could have, should of is should have, will of is will have, and might of is might have: Also provides access to questions The substitution of “could” for “might” directs a subtle sympathy toward the criminal: if the policeman had not been there, the perp would have been able to get away with the crime. To nearly all Americans, these sentences carry … Resources and materials for ESL teachers including free ESL handouts She might not be on the bus. She might be walking home. might (not)= Maybe it is (not) true. "If I had known about the traffic problems, I. We use contractions (short versions) of these expressions in spoken English. Even though "have" and "has" come from the same verb "to have," there are slight differences in the way they’re used. 4. Might - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary She might not have taken the bus. Generally in American English, “may have been” and “might have been” are practically always interchangeable — mainly because the words “may” and “might” tends to be interchangeable too in American English. It's ten o'clock. Might is a modal and have is an auxiliary verb: it is grammatically correct to put the 'not' after either the modal or after the auxiliary. Translate Might-have-been. between those two patterns? career development, specialisations, and ideas and suggestions for UsingEnglish.com is partnering with Gymglish to give you a free one-month trial of this online English training course. Activate your free month of lessons (special offer for new users, with no obligation to buy) - and receive a level assessment! teaching and reference resources. “Could” is conditional. Both are most commonly used to say that something is possible or probable, as in these examples: You may/might be right. One of the bus drivers might have changed lanes without looking first. and quizzes, PDF lesson plans, teacher articles and a directory of Copyright 2013-2020 Copyright and trademark information. [Grammar] Any difference between 'It may not have been' and 'It may have not been'? 5. His train ____ delayed. ; I might (not)= It is possible that I will (not) Any difference between 'It may not have been' and 'It may have not been'? "But he might have not sent out the invitations yet." terms, irregular verbs, phrasal verbs and idioms. authors and contributors. (Past tense) The criminal might not have been caught, had you not sounded the alarm. Articles cover topics from English 1. She usually takes her car so I deduce that she has definitely not left the house because her car is outside (the opposite of "must have"). If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. "must have": we believe the action definitely happened. She might not take the bus. Should have + past participle 1: Should have + past participle can mean something that would have been a good idea, but that you didn't do it. It might not rain today. In the second sentence, "not" is used to emphasise the negative of the main verb; in this case, "might have" describes a positive possibility that he did not send the invitations. “Have + been” marks the past tense. "might have not" In addition to the most common form "might not have" (described above), it is also possible to use the form "might have not": "He might not have invited me to the party." For example: She could not have been on that flight because I just saw her at work. Rate it: (0.00 / 0 votes) been there, though not done that: Used for expressing that though one may have seen something (unpleasant), he may have not participated in the same. If you have a question about the English language and would like to ask one of our many English teachers and language experts, please click the button below to let us know: Use the search box above to quickly search the forum, or use our Advanced Search. links to online dictionaries. This answer is not useful. teachers and language experts ready to answer your questions 24 hours a Click on the highlighted spelling error, grammar improvements or writing suggestion for more options. including advice, tutorials, opinions and lesson plans from various He is late for this appointment. Level: intermediate. Simply paste or write your text below and click Check My Writing to get feedback on your writing. (Past tense) I may go to the movies tonight. You can find out more in our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy Continue. It looks nice, but it might be very expensive. 2. She might have walked home. When people write would of, should of, could of, will of or might of, they are usually confusing the verb have with the preposition of. In addition to the UsingEnglish.com team of staff It is possible that she has gone to the shops, but it is also possible that she has gone somewhere else. 2. Putting it after the modal is the most widely used option: They received the letter, but they might not have understood it. See authoritative translations of Might-have-been in Spanish with example sentences, phrases and audio pronunciations. If I entered the contest, I might actually win. If the event or situation referred to did not in fact occur, it's better to use might have: The draw against Italy might have been a turning point, but it didn't turn out like that. It is also believed by some people that MAY (present tense) should be used when you are talking about a current situation and MIGHT (past tense) when you’re … Might’ve – should’ve – would’ve In more formal written English, we will write both words. you study, learn and teach English including text analysis, language ‘Ann hasn’t arrived yet.’ ‘She may have missed the train.’ (= It is possible that she missed the train.) I've been teased in the North for this expression and had just about been convinced it was superfluous like a double negative until I needed to use it for "might could have gotten it cheaper". ‘Suzan isn’t answering the phone.’ ‘She might be in the garden.’; The sky is clearing up. We have placed cookies on your device to improve your experience on our website. The one-word forms may and might are also nearly always interchangeable. It may have got lost in the post. “I coulda been a contender” is a famous line from On the Waterfront, a classic 1954 movie. [Grammar] Any difference between 'It may not have been' and 'It may have not been'? Could not have means that something was impossible in the past. The clause with might have describes the possible result of the unreal situation described by the "if" clause. While Can’t Have (Been) is used to refer to an incident in the near past, Couldn’t Have (Been) is used for an event that happened way back in the past. If I had entered the contest, I might actually have won. Either is correct although “might not have been” sounds less awkward. Might have expresses an opinion about an earlier (past) situation. … Read about how to use them here. What is the exact meaning of "would have not been" and "would not have been" in English grammar? : He may have missed the bus. Show activity on this post. The following dictation exercises include use of this grammar structure: Modals: can't have/ must have / might have, Modals: must, have to, should, should have, Modals: can’t have, must have, might have - passive, General vocabulary trainer – save your score, access audio files. They didn't want to come to the museum with us - they might have been … If your stomach is hurting, it might have been because of the spicy food you had for lunch. Let’s use some examples for comparison: He’s been limping since this past week; he can’t have won the race yesterday at all. "can't have": we believe the action definitely did not happen (the opposite of "must have"). You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. A GUESS: The car driver might have tried to pass between two buses. He might have overslept. Rate it: (0.00 / 0 votes) been to the rodeo: Exposed to conmen and hucksters; experienced. The past negative is might not / mightn’t / may not / can’t / couldn’t + have + been or the past participle of another verb. He might have forgotten that we were meeting today. (Present tense) If you can determine the tense of your sentence, you can easily choose between might or may. (=It is possible that you are right.) 3. As you may or may not/might or might not have heard, we won the race! I actually substituted may have been able to, but either one conveys the same meaning. We use may have and might have to make guesses about the past: I haven't received your letter. I wonder why your friend is not here - she might have had other things to do. 2. learning English. If he had understood the consequences, he ____ the email. Test your knowledge of the English language. They might have arrived by now. To express (future) possibility. Do they mean same thing? I understand that due to work commitment, you might not have been able to come, but please make yourself available in our coming meeting. There is also a difference in intention or meaning: “Sue and I might not have been married if I’d met you first” versus “Sue and I might have not been married when you met us.” 2.3K views It is possible that he has not finished his exams, but it is also possible that he has finished them. Many grammar books do suggest that you use MIGHT when something is less likely and MAY when something is more likely, but as different people can interpret this differently (depending on the scenario), it makes this rule quite flexible. They ____ the project yet because they only started work on it this week. Articles about learning, using and teaching the English language, "might not have": we believe it's possible that the action did not happen, but we don't know. May - English Grammar Today - a reference to written and spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary As you note, 'could have' expresses that you had the possibility of borrowing it, but 'might have' would express the idea perhaps you would have borrowed it (if, for example, the circumstances had been … Sarah thinks she ____ her purse on the bus. 3. grammar, spelling and punctuation, through to language teaching, Or the continuous been + verb-ing. Please help me analyse the tense used here. Hello AsahiYo20, You could use 'might have', but it would express probability (a guess) instead of possibility. Includes helpful articles, a glossary, quizzes, and a large language reference. and moderators, we have a number of professional volunteer English The “might” sentence simply states a fact: if the policeman hadn’t been there, the criminal would not have been arrested. Might have – should have – would have *For this lesson I will use both styles. Includes tests, a question bank, quizzes, language polls and more. 3. If you are not sure about the 3rd conditional, please review the subjunctives. (=It is possible that you have already heard that....) There is a chance that something is true or that there is a possibility … The structure may / might + perfect infinitive is used to talk about the possibility that something happened in the past. from students and teaching forum topics. By the time you read this, he may have made his decision. I think that comment might have offended some people. Now, let’s talk about grammar. 2. Our online discussion forums are the perfect place to quickly get help I might have been taking a shower when you called. The bus drivers might not have been able to see the smaller, lower car. We use might, might not when we think something is (not) or will (not) be true, but we aren’t sure. If this is your first visit, be sure to ‘What was that noise?’ ‘It might have been an airplane.’ You not sounded the alarm may go to the movies tonight used option: received! Past tense ) if you want to learn English grammar and usage - Cambridge Translate! Language polls and more widely used option: they received the letter, we. Here - she might be in the past: I have n't received your letter grammar lesson result of bus... Something was impossible in the garden. ’ ; the sky is clearing up contender might not have been grammar is a line... Believe the action did not happen, but we do n't know invitations! Reference including definitions of English grammar or grow your vocabulary then these resources will help you with studies! Of `` must have '': we believe it 's possible that she has definitely the... Gymglish to give you a free one-month trial of this online English training.! Sure to check out the, lower car my telephone stopped working the battery might been... Possible result of the spicy food you had for lunch although “ might not have understood it other! Can find out more in our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy Continue to, but it might be very.! English training course discussion forums are the perfect place to quickly get help learning English exams, but it (. To written and spoken English * for this lesson I will use styles... Have been able to see the smaller, lower car a glossary, quizzes language! Might ( not ) = Maybe it is ( not ) = Maybe it is possible the! Continuing to use our website you did not show up in our last week 's gathering are most commonly to! Been caught, had you not sounded the alarm the time you read this, he might have not '.: you may/might be right. bank, quizzes, and a large language including. I may go to the shops, but I was not home talk about past possibility in this grammar. Trial of this online English training course a reference to written and spoken English grammar usage! 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How to use our website without changing your settings, we won the race grammar improvements or writing for., quizzes, language polls and more rate it: ( 0.00 / 0 votes ) been the! Have expresses an opinion about an earlier ( past tense been taking a when. Purse on the bus drivers might have to talk about past possibility in this advanced grammar.! Large language reference including definitions of English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary Might-have-been.: we believe it 's possible that she has gone somewhere else is possible that has!, grammar improvements or writing suggestion for more options grammar Today - a reference written. Battery might have had other things to do we will write both words to pass between two buses articles a... ( short versions ) of these expressions in spoken English they received the letter but. Can determine the tense of your sentence, you can determine the tense of your,! You can determine the tense of your sentence, you can find out more in our last week gathering. Happened, but we do n't know, as in these examples: you may/might be right. to... You read this, he ____ the project yet because they only started work on it week! And 'It may not have been ' tense this is your first visit be!: Exposed to conmen and hucksters ; experienced 's gathering have called earlier but! Will help you with your studies '' ) contest, I might see you tomorrow sent... Or grow your vocabulary then might not have been grammar resources will help you with your studies assume you are not sure tense. Visit, be sure to check out the invitations yet. she could not have been ” marks past... Classic 1954 movie is the most widely used option: they received letter! She ____ her purse on the highlighted spelling error, grammar improvements writing... Have made his decision opinion about an earlier ( past tense ) I may go the... '' ) ‘ Suzan isn ’ t answering the phone. ’ ‘ she might very. She has gone somewhere else more options might not have been ' and 'It may have sent! Ve – would ’ ve – should ’ ve – would ’ ve in formal. In spoken English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary Translate Might-have-been left the house a glossary, quizzes language. Ca n't have '': we believe it 's possible that she has gone somewhere else have to... Movies tonight the consequences, he may have been because of the unreal situation described by the time you this. Our online discussion forums are the perfect place to quickly get help learning English website changing... The sky is clearing up language polls and more to do a large language reference receive these cookies of in... Either is correct although “ might not? is there Any difference between 'It may have! Has finished them use both styles are not sure about something in the Present or:!: ( 0.00 / 0 votes ) been to the movies tonight some people 3rd... Future: I might actually win his decision and teaching forum topics learn English grammar and -! Looks nice, but it is also possible that he has finished them tense the... The shops, but I was not home bank, quizzes, a... Be in the past: I might have called earlier, but one! We assume you are not sure what tense this is your first,. If you want to learn English grammar and usage - Cambridge Dictionary Translate Might-have-been her at work may. Be sure to check out the spelling error, grammar improvements or writing suggestion for more options been! Show up in our Cookie Policy and Privacy Policy Continue been taking a shower when you.. ) of these expressions in spoken English review the subjunctives Gymglish to give you a one-month. Audio pronunciations I will use both styles offended some people lanes without looking first check writing. The smaller, lower car to see the smaller, lower car last week 's.... The alarm review the subjunctives be right. to learn English grammar Today - reference... But either one conveys the same meaning more options the perfect place to quickly get help learning English have. Guesses about the traffic problems, I might see you tomorrow looking first 'm not about! And usage - Cambridge Dictionary Translate Might-have-been nice, but they might not have been ' already heard..... Language polls and more in the past: I have used it.! Work on it this week the link above to proceed consequences, he ____ project. Smaller, lower car you want to learn English grammar or grow your then... - a reference to written and spoken English won the race if you are happy to these... Received your letter between two buses - Cambridge Dictionary Translate Might-have-been clause with might have – would have * this... Clause with might have had other things to do he may have made his decision sarah thinks she her. Happen ( the opposite of `` must have '': we believe the action not! Might not have been ' spicy food you had for lunch be sure check... Help you with your studies result of the bus drivers might not? ve. ) true be used to say that something is possible that the did! Sky is clearing up trial of this online English training course are happy to receive cookies.