Auxiliary verb, "might"

Question

Here's a dialogue with an auxiliary verb 'might.' (I found this in one English magazine for ESL students.)
I'd like to get the meaning of the sentence with it and what the sentence itself implies.

A: I need to send this text file to my office.
B: You might want to use the computer in my study.
A: Thanks a lot. It'll take me just a minute.

What does the second sentence mean?
Does the second speaker offer to use the computer to the first speaker indirectly?
Does it implies ; "If you want to use the computer in my study, please go ahead.”

If there were not the third sentence, I would take the meaning of it "You wanted to use the computer in my study, didn't you?"

Also, if I say; "You might have wanted to use the computer," does it mean "Perhaps you wanted to use the computer." Is it right.....??

Many thanks for your help in advance.

Candy

Rommie · Accepted Answer

"You might want to..." is one of those curious phrases that doesn't actually mean what you think it ought to mean.

It SHOULD mean "It is possible, but not certain, that you want to....".
It IN FACT means "I suggest that you...".

So, in this case, B is making an offer, which explains why A then says "Thanks".

The phrase "You might have wanted to..." implies something different. In this case, it says exactly what it ought. As you say - "Perhaps you wanted to use the computer", yes, that is right. However, because it's in the past, it also implies "...but it's too late now".

Hope that helps,
Rommie

Candy · Answer

Thanks for answering to two of my questions, Rommie.

So, in this case, B is suggesting indirectly.
In fact it means; "I suggest that you use the computer if you need to sent it now."
Does my understanding make sense?

Now I'd like to ask one more thing.
A. You might want to use it.
B. You may want to use it.
Which one is making offer more mildly, A or B?(I don't know if 'mildly' is the proper word to use here.....)
'Might' is more indirectly? Or, isn't there a big difference between these two?

Candy

Rommie · Answer

I don't think it makes much difference here.

In NORMAL usage, "may" means "have permission to". In THIS usage it's just making a polite offer, as you say.

I think the MOST polite option is "You may use it" (as in, omit the "want to"). This is terribly straightforward - it means "you have my permission to use it", which is exactly what it should mean.

Rommie

Maj · Answer

"May I send you that film?" Would that be asking for permission even though it is an offer?. Thanks in advance for your comments.

Rommie · Answer

The whole process of offering things to people is hideously complex. It's really hard to say that one thing is "more polite" than another, because it depends on whom you're talking to.

"May I send you that film?" is certainly very polite. It's asking permission to give a gift - that's VERY considerate. After all, if the film is "Lord of the Rings" and the recipient hates Tolkien, you are giving them an opportunity to refuse the gift. That is very, very kind. Unfortunately, unless you know someone really well, this can be taken the wrong way. The very fact that you're asking permission, implies some kind of obligation on the part of the recipient. For instance - maybe it's your favorite film, and you're suggesting to someone that you like that they should watch it. This places them in a dilemma - what if they watch it and they don't like it? Would it offend you if they told you that? Except between close friends, it would probably be better to say "Do you want me to send you that film?", which implies no obligation at all on the part of the recipient.

Being polite always depends on whom you're talking to. There is no form of words I can give you that will work for everyone.

It makes sense to say to someone you know really well: "You might want to use the computer in my study". For example, if that person already *** that they have your permission to use your computer, then you are merely reminding them that that permission is still in effect. Were you to say to such a person "You may use my compter" then you would in fact be reminding them that you have the power to withdraw that permission, so in fact that would be LESS polite.

On the other hand, between a teacher and a student, "You might want to use the computer in my study" could be sorely misunderstood. It might leave the student thinking: "Am I ALLOWED to do that?", or "Maybe they think I'm authorised to use that, but I'm not", or "Do I have to fill in any forms", or whatever. A shy student might not actually ask these questions, merely think them, and end up not using the computer at all. On the other hand, had the teacher said "You may use my computer" that would have been perfectly clear and appropriate.

Now consider this:

A: I'm going to use the computer in the study.
B: Yes, you may use my computer.

Here, B is not being polite at all, but is in fact reminding A that it's not their machine, and that permission should be sought, and may be refused.

The bottom line is this: underlying assumptions don't need to be spelled out, and SHOULDN'T be spelled out. But where such assumptions don't exist, it is wise to explicate everything relevant.

Rommie

Candy · Answer

Many, many thanks for your great explanation!

Auxiliary verbs are very difficult to use, because I know using them in the wrong way sometimes create kind of a little (sometimes, a very big) misunderstanding between speakers.

Candy

Auxiliary verb, "might"

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