Difference Between Might and Might Have (With Table)

The words ‘might’ and ‘might have’ are two words from the English dictionary. Many people often get confused between these two words because of the common word ‘might’ used in them. Even though they have some similarities, they do have their differences in how they are supposed to be used in a sentence by a person.

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Might vs Might Have

The main difference between ‘might’ and ‘might have’ is that ‘might have’ consists of two words when is being used by a person in a sentence for a certain event to happen or which has already happened, and on the other hand, the word ‘Might’ consist of only one word when it is being used in a sentence by a person.

‘Might’ is a work in the English dictionary that is used to denote that something can happen in the future if a certain thing is done in a particular way, according to the teller. This word is used when a person wants to denote a sense of request or suggestion to a sentence. This word is also used in a sentence for asking permission too.

The word ‘Might have’ is a set of words from the English dictionary made by adding a participle to the auxiliary word Might. When this word is used in a sentence, it denotes a sense of uncertainty of a situation of happening or non-happening under a certain event. This word is always to denote in the past tense in a sentence.

Comparison Table Between Might and Might Have

Parameters of Comparison

Might

Might Have

Number of words

It consists of the only word in it when it is used in a sentence.

It consists of two words when it is used in a sentence.

Type

It is a modal auxiliary verb that is used in a sentence.

It is a perfect infinitive that is used in a sentence.

Function

It is used in a sentence to suggest a sentence of an event occurring in the future.

It is always used in a sentence to denote a possibility of something of a past event.

Tense

Always used for past tense.

Always used for future tense.

Example

She might be upset.

She might have been upset.

What is Might?

‘Might’ is a word in the English dictionary that is used to denote that something can happen in the future if a certain thing is done in a particular way, according to the teller. This word is used when a person wants to denote a sense of request or suggestion to a sentence. This word is also used in a sentence for asking permission too.

Sometimes when this word is used in a sentence, it is placed with words like have, etc. This means that it is used with a past participle after it in a sentence. This word is a modal auxiliary word.

Following are some examples where the word ‘Might’ is used in a sentence-

  1. He might go to the party which is going to be held on the 30th of April by Rahul.
  2. I might not be invited to the party hosted by Rahul.
  3. They might be late for school tomorrow as they are going to be reaching the airport late.
  4. There might be some instance which happened because of which they don’t talk now.
  5. There might be a delay in the flight timing for Mumbai to Chandigarh.

What is Might Have?

The word ‘Might have’ is a set of words from the English dictionary made by adding a participle to the auxiliary word Might. When this word is used in a sentence, it denotes a sense of uncertainty of a situation of happening or non-happening under a certain event. This word is always to denote in the past tense in a sentence.

This word is an extension of the word Might by being added by a present participle that has. This word is used in a sentence to denote a possibility of something by a person of something that occurred in the past which is connected to another condition that is uncertain in the future.

Following are some examples where the word ‘Might Have’ is used in a sentence-

  1. He might have annoyed everyone if he didn’t kick himself out of the plan.
  2. She might have already taken a shower before we all did.
  3. They might have already bought the tickets for the movie tomorrow.
  4. What if they might not have seen it coming?
  5. They might have been practising this routine for really long.

Main Differences Between Might and Might Have

  1. ‘Might’ consist of the only word in it when it is used in a sentence, and on the other hand, ‘Might Have’ consists of two words in a sentence.
  2. ‘Might’ is a modal auxiliary verb that is used in a sentence, and on the other hand, ‘Might have’ is a perfect infinitive that is used in a sentence.
  3. ‘Might’ is used in a sentence to suggest a sentence of an event occurring in the future, and on the other hand, ‘Might have’ is always used in a sentence to denote a possibility of something of a past event.
  4. ‘Might’ is always used in a sentence to talk about something which happened in the past, and on the other hand, ‘Might have’ is always used in a sentence to talk about something which is going to happen in the future.
  5. I might go for the picnic as an example of ‘Might’, and on the other hand, I might have been gone by now, for the picnic is an example of ‘Might have’.

Conclusion

The words ‘might’ and ‘might have’ are two words from the English dictionary. Many people often get confused between these two words because of the common word that might use in them. Even though they have some similarities, they do have their differences in how they are supposed to be used in a sentence by a person.

A person must have a basic understanding of the difference between these two words to know in which context these words are supposed to be used in a sentence. Replacement of these two words in a sentence may change the entire meaning of a sentence leading to miscommunication.

References

  1. https://www.jstor.org/stable/2185369
  2. https://books.google.com/books?hl=en&lr=&id=CD2ZAgAAQBAJ&oi=fnd&pg=PP1&dq=might+vs+might+have&ots=nrAZ3T8XZY&sig=IrUM82npQGyjtCMFX-5LMFcX2TU

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