What is the meaning

AnonymousDoes 'may or might have been' in this sentence refer to the past?

Yes.

Thank you. I am just wondering could the second clause, after the comma, be in both past and present. Like could I convey a message in past or future, after 'I may have been'?

Anonymous Like could I convey a message in past or future, after 'I may have been'?

Not really. This is a start, if this is what you hope to do:

I may be or might have been broke, but I have never talked about it.

Sorry but I did not understand what you meant by this is a start and if this is what I hope to do. You mean it depends in what I want to convey.

For example, take these sentences:
I may have been acting crazy lately, but I still love you.
I might have been broke, but I am strong and wealthy now.

So both 'may or might have been' are used differently in these sentences. Do

AnonymousSo both 'may have been and might have been' are used differently in these sentences

No, they mean the same.

Anonymoust I did not understand what you meant by this is a start and if this is what I hope to do.

Forget it; it evidently does not apply to your question.

Sorry, I think I did not do a good job with what I am trying to ask about.
My main concern is what you said about the second clause and what follows. So if it is just a start, I can say something in the past or future, as you said depending on what I hope to do or convey.

You said that 'I may have been' is in the past, so does what follow that has to be in the past or not, and that ju

Teacher I would appreciate it if would clarify this subject for me. I have been thinking and about it and it is just confusing me. I think I know what I want to write but not sure about how to explain it.

I may have been crazy lately: this is in the present.
I may have been broke: this is in the past.

They were followed by sentences in the present, so there seems to be a mix

Anonymous'I may have been' is in the past, so does what follow that has to be in the past or not, and that just depends on the context?

It depends on context.

So are the sentences that I wrote correct?

'I may have been' sounds like it can be in the past and recent past, depending on the context. Am I right?

I may have been crazy lately: this is in the present.
I may have been broke: this is in the past.

Is that what you meant by 'it is a start to what I hope to convey?

Thank you very much.

AnonymousI may have been crazy lately: this is in the present.

No, that is in the past: the form 'may/might/can/could/etc' + have' refers to the past.

AnonymousIs that what you meant by 'it is a start to what I hope to convey?

No, it has nothing to do with that. I was mistaken in what you were asking about. I told you to f