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Deepak Sivaraman pandi Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Might have vs Could have

Hello Native speakers,

I am learning the modals and have couple of questions on Might have vs Could have.

Please look at the following three pairs of sentences.

  • The teacher might have been distracted when she wrote it.
  • The teacher could have been distracted when she wrote it.
  • She might have been tired when she wrote it.
  • She could have been tired when she wrote it.
  • They might have won the lottery.
  • They could have won the lottery.
  1. Can we use might have and could have interchangeably in the above sentences? As a native speakers, do you use these interchangeably or stick to something based on your preferences. If yes, why?
  2. They could have won the lottery - Is this sentences ambiguous and incomplete? Does it mean they had the possibility of winning the lottery or Does it mean they had the possibility but they didn't win?


Regards,

Deepak

  

Top answer

It looks to me like you understand the possible meanings of all the sentences. The last one can be used alone or it might mean that something is missing like "They could have won the lottery if they had bought a ticket," but it doesn't have to mean that. It might just mean that it is withing the realm of possibility that they won the lottery.

— Englishmaven

  • It looks to me like you understand the possible meanings of all the sentences.
  • The last one can be used alone or it might mean that something is missing like "They could have won the lottery if they had bought a ticket," but it doesn't have to mean that.
  • It might just mean that it is withing the realm of possibility that they won the lottery.
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2 Answers
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It looks to me like you understand the possible meanings of all the sentences. The last one can be used alone or it might mean that something is missing like "They could have won the lottery if they had bought a ticket," but it doesn't have to mean that. It might just mean that it is withing the realm of possibility that they won the lottery.

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Deepak Sivaraman pandiCan we use might have and could have interchangeably in the above sentences?

Yes. The one about the lottery is a little problematic, however. See below.

Deepak Sivaraman pandiAs a native speakers, do you use these interchangeably or stick to something based on your preferences.

When it comes

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