Might: forms
Affirmative (+) form
Mightcomes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb):
Shemightsell her house.
Thismightbe true.
Not:That might can be true. orThat can might be true.
Negative (−) form
The negative form ofmightismight notormightn’t. We don’t usedon’t/doesn’t/didn’twithmight:
Theremight notbe anyone in the house.(orTheremightn’tbe…)
Not:There doesn’t might be anyone in the house.
See also:
Modal verbs
Question (?) form
The subject andmightchange position to form questions.
We don’t usedo/does/did:
Mightthis be the key?
Not:Does this might be the key?
Mightn’tthis be the key?
Not:Doesn’t might this be the key?
We can usemightandmightn’tin question tags, but they’re not very common:
That might not be a bad idea,might it?
That plant might do better by the window,mightn’t it?
Might: uses
Possibility
We usemightmost often to refer to weak possibility:
Imightgo to Japan for a month to study Japanese.
The dogmightbark when we pass by the gate.
Theymightnot like very hot food.
Permission
We usemightto refer to permission. It is very formal and is not used very often:
MightI ask your name?
MightI interrupt you for a moment?
The reply to these will not containmight:
A:MightI ask your address?
B:Yes. It’s 41 Ross Avenue.
A:MightI ask you a question?
B:Yes. Of course.
Not:Yes. You might.
Suggestions
We can usemightto give advice or make a suggestion sound more polite or less direct, especially when used together withlike, preferorwant:
[A waiter politely suggesting a dessert to a customer.]
Youmightlike to try one of our wonderful desserts.
See also:
Declarative clauses
Suggestions
Criticism
We often usemight have+ -edform to express disapproval or criticism:
Youmight have toldme you weren’t coming home for dinner.(you didn’t tell me)
Youmight have tidiedyour room.
Might: reportingmay
We usemightas the past form ofmayin indirect reports:
‘Thatmaynot be true’, she said.
She said that itmightnot be true.
See also:
Reported speech
Might: typical error
We don’t usemightfor ability; we usecanorcould:
Although youcanvisit these places, if you are tired, you’re welcome to stay in the hotel.
Not:Although you might visit these places…
Icouldhear the noise of an engine.
Not:I might hear the noise of an engine.
See also:
Can
Could