might in requests

Hi Inch

Your sentences sound more like suggestions to me.

How about this:
Might I borrow your Jaguar on Saturday?

should, not might, if you want requests here.

Hi,

Swan says might is often used in affirmative clauses to make requests and suggestions.

He gave the two above sentences as examples.

InchoateknowledgeSwan says might is often used in affirmative clauses to make requests and suggestions.
He gave the two above sentences as examples.

Of suggestions, yes, but not of requests. Or these are very mild requests.

Marius Hancushould, not might, if you want requests here.

I'm having some trouble following that. Could you explain how/where you want to use should, Marius?

Yankee

Marius Hancushould, not might, if you want requests here.

I'm having some trouble following that. Could you explain how/where you want to use should, Marius?

Stronger than might to me, still not very pushy/imposing:

You should

You should try to see if John's free this evening.

You should try asking your uncle for a job.


That's still a suggestion, in my mind. I don't see it as a request.

(As a personal note, my back goes up when someone tells me "you should..." I find it presumptuous. But I realize that

It may well be that the BrE reading of might in such examples is stronger, as a request. See:
------------
might
as request
(British form)

Might I have something to drink?
Might I borrow the stapler?
(Requests usually refer to the near future.)
NEGATIVE FORMS UNCOMMON

InchoateknowledgeHi

You might see if John's free this evening.

You might try asking your uncle for a job.

Does any of these sentences express request?

Thanks.

Yes, both can be used pragmatically to request information or help in finding it.

Might I borrow your Jaguar on Saturday?

May I borrow your Jaguar on Saturday?

Both sentences are correct. I believe that the first sentence is a more polite request.