Could/ might

Question

Dear native speakers, I know that might is used for repeated FACTUAL actions in the past AND in the present.
1. When I was a teen I might come home in the morning. (might "lives " in the past'
2. This days I sometimes might help my wife with washing up (might "lives" in the present"
Am I right?
Second, I know that apart from concession ( He might have been drunk then but he managed to park the car) might have done can also denote repeated actions in the past? At least some natives use it this way. Or it is a mistake? , one natvie teacher wrote " Last year at the end of the lessons I might have given my students these topic to discuss and they were absorbed in them" (here might have given is not a consession, it is factual event. If this teacher is correct then what is the difference betwwen might do and might have done when referring to repeated past actions? When I was a teen I might come / might have come home in the morning. Sorry for rumbling thoughts

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

1. "When I was a teen I might come home in the morning." This is a correct sentence. I'm a native speaker in the US, and I wouldn't describe this sentence as depicting repeated actions in the past, and "factual" is not the right word to describe this either. What the modal "might" does here is inject probability into the sentence. The speaker sometimes would come home in the morning.

2. "These days I might help my wife with cleaning up." This is correct wording. Again, the modal injects probability into the sentence. The speaker sometimes helps his wife clean up.

3. "He might have been drunk then, but he managed to park the car." This is a correct sentence. I wouldn't describe this as depicting "concession." Again, the modal injects probability into the sentence. The person may or may not have been drunk then.

4. "Last year at the end of the term I might have given my students this topic to discuss." This is correct wording. Again, the modal injects probability into the sentence. The teacher may or may not have given his students this topic to discuss.

CalifJim · Answer

Vladv~~Sorry for rumbling thoughts~~
Sorry for my rambling thoughts.

As I interpret your post, you mention two uses of 'might' other than the primary meaning 'maybe'.

You call them (1) 'factual repeated actions' and (2) 'concessions', which amount to (1) actions that occur or occurred sporadically and (2) actions that the speaker takes to be true (concedes to) without proof.

It turns out that both of the two forms you asked about, namely might and might have, can be used in both ways. Further, the first of these (might) can be used in either a present or a past situation, whereas the second (might have) can only be used in the past.

might, usage (1)

Present: On any given day I might take a walk.
(I do take a walk — if the weather is fine; if the mood strikes me; etc.)
Past: On any given day I might take a walk.
(I did take a walk — if the weather was fine; if the mood struck me; etc.)
Past: When I was still in college, I might attend a concert now and then.
(I did attend a concert now and then — if I had time; if the performers interested me; etc.)

Past: On any given day I might have taken a walk. (as above)
Past: When I was still in college, I might have attended a concert now and then. (as above)
These last two examples are not as convincing as examples of "usage 1". They are too easily interpreted as simple "maybe"s, as if to say "Maybe I did this; maybe I didn't do this; I don't really remember".

might, usage (2)

Present: He might be disabled from polio, but he is a magnificent violinist. (He is disabled from polio.)
Past: He seemed completely stable mentally, but it should be said that he might break into uncontrollable laughter at the most inappropriate times.
(He did break into laughter, etc.)

It should be noted that with a non-stative proposition (break into laughter) the 'action' interpretation is inevitable (usage (1)) even though the 'concession' interpretation (usage (2)) is also present.

Past: Although she might have been rude to a great many others, she was always perfectly pleasant with me.
(She was rude to others.)

Vladvwhat is the difference between might do and might have done when referring to repeated past actions?

None. Just 'might' is sufficient.

All of the usages you've asked about in your post are somewhat antiquated literary usages. Knowing about them may help you in reading the classics of English literature, but they are of very little use in a conversational setting in today's world.

CJ

Could/ might

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