Everyday English –
may and might II
may and might II
Sometimes we need to use may or might in the past tense. Let’s practice that today.
“I can’t find my cell phone. I MIGHT have left it in the car.”
To say that something was possible in the past we use MAY have (verb) or MIGHT have (verb).
” I MIGHT have left it in the car.” = It’s possible I left my phone in the car.
 |
| “Where is my cell phone?” |
* Remember * After ‘have‘ we will use the past participle form of the verb. Sometimes the past participle is the same as the past tense.
” I can’t find my cell phone. I MIGHT have left it in the car.”
Examples of verbs whose past participles are the same as the past tense.
Examples of verbs whose past participles are the same as the past tense.
leave – left – left
walk – walked – walked
play – played – played
*Sometimes the past participle is not the same as the past tense.
“I can’t find my cell phone. I MAY have forgotten it at work.”
Examples of verbs whose past participles are different from the past tense.
Examples of verbs whose past participles are different from the past tense.
forget – forgot – forgotten
throw – threw – thrown
eat – ate – eaten
More example sentences.
A: “Brian didn’t eat very much at the company dinner.”
B: “He MAY have had a late lunch.”
 |
A: “Where is Jim?”
B: “He MAY have forgotten there was a meeting after work today.”