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.

Hope /expect/ think

Hope /expect/ think

I find there is some confusion in the use of the above three words.

People especially use hope in the place of think.

When we use hope, there is a wish that it should be so.

E.g.,

We hope to reach there before 5 p.m.

( We wish to reach there before 5. p.m. Hopefully, it will happen).

But, think does not have any such connotation.

E.g.,

I think we will reach there before 5. p.m.

( Given the present circumstances, we should be there by 5. p.m. What we wish does not matter. It is just a statement.)

Also, note that there is a slight difference in the usage of expect and think.

Expect is more reliable. You expect certain things because you have either factual proof or previous experience.

E.g.,

We are driving quite fast. The road is very good. There is no traffic. We expect to be there by 5 p.m.

Now go through the three sentences below.

I hope you will do well in the examination. ( I wish it so).

I think you will do well in the examination. ( I am almost sure).

I expect you to do well in the examination. ( I know you. You are a studious person. You have to do well.)

*I hope I have made it clear.