Might?

I don't know of any reason why he would be upset.

SelvakumarIs there anything wrong in saying, "Excuse me, I might need your help." ? When I said this to an officer at an Underground Station in London, he said, "You might or you need." I am not sure whether he was being churlish or cheeky. (He was, by the bye, an immigrant, i.e., not a Caucasian).

gosh... are you serious? people are strange... perhaps he had

Excuse me, I might need your help."

This sounds like you are not sure if you need my help. Is that your intended meaning? Are you uncertain?

Clive

SelvakumarIs there anything wrong in saying, "Excuse me, I might need your help." ?

It's a bit weird. I'd reply, "Well, let me know when you discover that you really need help and come back and ask again at that time!"

I thank everyone for the prompt answers. I appreciate it.

I am quite interested in what Clive and CalifJim said. I thought it is much politer to say, 'I might need your help" than "I need your help", which I felt has a certain peremptoriness in the request. My feeling is "might" in that context expressed a higher degree of politeness.

What do you think

Selvakumar(He was, by the bye, an immigrant, i.e., not a Caucasian).

There are many non-caucasian British people who are not immigrants. Their parents or grandparents may have been born in another country, and the ancestors of some arrived in Britain as long ago as the eighteenth century, but the majority are British citizens, born in Britain. There are a f

fivejedjon Selvakumar(He was, by the bye, an immigrant, i.e., not a Caucasian).There are many non-caucasian British people who are not immigrants. ...

And what has that got to do with English?

Thank you Fivejedjon and Enoon.

My point was, that person was not a native speaker.

enoonAnd what has that got to do with English?

I was trying to ensure that members do not make the mistake of thinking that non-caucasian speakers of English in the UK are all immigrants and/or non-native speakers.

fivejedjon enoonAnd what has that got to do with English?I was trying to ensure that members do not make the mistake of thinking that non-caucasian speakers of English in the UK are all immigrants and/or non-native speakers.

And if I were to dismiss that explanation as disingenuous, strike a hectoring pose, and insist that you were making a knee-jerk defense o