Guest  +  97900 Tue, 10 May 05 07:09 AM Is there any distinctions between 'I thought he may have visited there' and 'I thought he might have visited there'? If there is, could you give examples elucidating in tense and other perspectives? Thank you. Guest Tenses

	CalifJim  +  97919 Tue, 10 May 05 08:16 AM I would not use the first. "thought" is past; "may" is present. The most normal and neutral choice after "I thought (that)" and similar phrases in the past tense is "might" (or "could" or "would", etc.), not "may" (or "can" or "will", etc.). I knew that he would agree. I knew that he will agree. I thought he might go. I thought he might have gone. I thought he may go. I thought he may have gone. I said I could have waited another 15 minutes. I said I can have waited another 15 minutes. :( CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,447 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Tenses, Past Tenses

	MrPedantic  +  98154 Wed, 11 May 05 12:23 AM I think I may be more used to using 'may' after 'think'. MrP MrPedantic Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004 Veteran Member 12,592 ...opella forensis / adducit febris...

	MrPedantic  +  98163 Wed, 11 May 05 01:07 AM I may have thought think might have had to have may; but now I think I might have thought think might as well have had might (as well). MrPedantic

	woodcutter  +  98169 Wed, 11 May 05 01:58 AM But I think the point might have been that we may often be able to use may, not that we might often use might. woodcutter