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 #2 (permalink) Sun Sep 25, 2011 9:33 am Might have +pp |
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IMHO:
(1) You have asked a fantastic question.
(2) I have a book that explains this. IF (repeat: IF) I understand that book correctly, then YOU are 100% correct: the sentence should, indeed, use "may have."
(3) Here is what that book says: (a) use "may have + pp" when we do not yet know the answer; use "might have + pp" when the answer is already known.
(a) So in my opinion (ONLY my opinion) here is what two sentences may mean:
(i) Don't worry, Mom. He may have gotten stuck in traffic again. = Don't worry. You know how bad traffic is. He has probably gotten stuck in it. [5 minutes later, Billy calls and says "I'm on my way home. Traffic is horrendous this evening. Don't worry."]
(ii) [Billy's sister, Mona, got home early. She tells her family] I'm so lucky! Traffic was horrendous, so I might have gotten stuck in traffic, but I DIDN'T, because the radio told me about the traffic conditions on Maple Street. So I decided to use Elm Street instead. No problems there. And here I am! |
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James M
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Torsten
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| #4 (permalink) Sun Sep 25, 2011 14:33 pm Re: Might have +pp |
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| Lilish wrote: |
Hello there;
"Might have + pp" shows past possibilities, however I dont't understand why "Might have + pp" is used here:
Billy is late his mother is worried somebody says; "Don't worry he might have gotten stuck in the traffic jam".
Why not: "May be he is stuck in the traffic jam"?
This is a present possibility, why using "Might have + pp"? |
'Maybe he is' = perhaps he is
'He might have' = this could be the explanation.
Both of them come down to the same basic idea and you could use either.
There's usually more than one way to say anything in English.
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Beeesneees
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| #5 (permalink) Sun Sep 25, 2011 14:52 pm Might have +pp |
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1. "May be he is stuck in the traffic jam"?
2. "Maybe he is stuck in the traffic jam"?
What is the difference between 'May be' and 'Maybe' in these sentences? |
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 Allifathima
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| #6 (permalink) Sun Sep 25, 2011 14:53 pm Might have +pp |
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'May be' is incorrect.
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Beeesneees
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| #7 (permalink) Sat Oct 22, 2011 11:05 am Might have +pp |
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Hi Beensnees;
Might have+pp ;isn't itused when we are geussing what happened in past; if so "I'm worried ,he might have had an accident" refers to when? |
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Lilish
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| #8 (permalink) Sat Oct 22, 2011 12:28 pm Might have +pp |
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I'm worried he might have had an accident.' (no comma) refers to any point up from the moment of his last known whereabouts to the present.
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Beeesneees
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| "Some of the staff are/were late." | If there's lessons |
