Is 'might would' correct?

Question

Is this sentence incorrect?'He might would do it, if he were asked.'

Philip · Accepted Answer

RileysMomIs this sentence incorrect?

'He might would do it, if he were asked.'

One or the other: take your pick. Beginning the sentence with the if-clause requires the comma. As it is, delete it.

RileysMom · Answer

Thanks so much!

So what is 'might'? What is 'would'?

Are they both auxillaries?

Aperisic · Answer

RileysMom
Thanks so much!

So what is 'might'? What is 'would'?

Are they both auxillaries?

Yes.

I might dance/love/write/jump - there is a chance or I could dance/love/write/jump...

I would dance/love/write/jump - in the past I usually danced/loved/wrote/jumped..., or I have intention of dancing/loving/writing/jumping, or the past of will, or you are certain that you would dance/love/write/jump, or purpose I bought these shoes so I would dance/love/write/jump

BarbaraPA · Answer

Note that if you say "He might do it," you are saying that there is a possibility that he will. If you say "He would do it," you are expressing your belief that he WILL do it. (There is not the uncertainty about whether he will or will not that there is in "might.")

"might would" is actually used colloquially in some parts of the U.S. as a way to say "maybe I would" (not very different at all from simply saying "might") but it is extremely informal and would be considered non-standard. If you are are writing a novel, you can have one of your characters say this, but don't ever use it outside of dialogue in writing.

CalifJim · Answer

"might could" is in the same class, by the way. Standard English for "might could" is "maybe ... could", just as "might would" is "maybe ... would".

CJ

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