Grammar Entry 628 / 1011 60-second read

May have (past) vs. Might have

For unreal past events, use MIGHT HAVE.

The comparisoni

✗ Wrong

If she had been quicker, she may have caught the train.

✓ Correct

If she had been quicker, she might have caught the train.

The ruleii

Counterfactual past: MIGHT HAVE.

MAY HAVE suggests the event might have actually occurred. MIGHT HAVE suggests a counterfactual — it didn't.

Memory aidiii

Remember it like this

Counterfactual = MIGHT HAVE.

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