Wednesday 25 September 2013

May have, might have, must have



·       May have and might have are used when we wish to state that something has possibly happened now or sometime ago.
E.g.,
The bride groom’s party might have arrived by now. ( Perhaps they have arrived.)
They may have given the advance for the flat.( Perhaps they gave the advance, long back).

·       Must have is used to express a probability in the past.
E.g.,
Geetha must have taken the umbrella.
The thief must have escaped  through that window.

Now, go through the following sentences:
·       They could have easily solved the problem. (It was possible for them but they did not do so).
·       They will have finished writing the examination by now.
·       I thought you would have informed your parents about this.
·       You should have been more careful.( You were not and so you are in trouble now.)
·       Nilesh may have repaid the loans.( Perhaps he repaid them long back).
·       Meena is not at home now. She might have taken her child to the music class. ( Perhaps she has)
·       Don’t worry about your cell phone. Your mother must have kept it safe.(It is quite probable that she has)

*We will discuss the difference between ‘possible’ and ‘probable’ in the next post.

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