The past tense of "may"

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Teleostomi

#240814 Wed, 28 Jun 06 11:32 AM

1. I think he may not have noticed me.

When one wants to change 1 to the past tense, is it obligatory to change the tense of "may" into "might"?

2. I thought he might not have noticed me.

Or should "may" be preserved as such?

3. I thought he may not have noticed me.

Which is the sentence to choose?

Teleostomi

Joined on Sat, Jun 10 2006

Regular Member (557)

Ruslana

#240822 Wed, 28 Jun 06 11:46 AM

"Might" is the correct one.

Ruslana

Joined on Sat, Dec 17 2005

Russia

Senior Member (3,173)

"When the power of love overcomes the love of power, the world will know peace", - Jimi Hendrix

Marius Hancu

#240834 Wed, 28 Jun 06 12:08 PM

For many people, both "may have" and "might have" are correct and used for the past. There's more doubt in "might have."

Things are a bit complicated and controversial. One of the points of view is here:

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http://www.orlapubs.com/AL/L39.html

potential MAY (HAVE)

used for possibilities in non-past time; may have is used for possibility in any past time up till now; e.g.
"They may (have) put it there."
One cannot say
"It may have survived"
when it is known that it didn't survive or hasn't survived!

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conditional-potential MIGHT (HAVE) (past) past-posterior

used for doubtful possibilities in past time; e.g.
"They might have put it there yesterday";
"They said that it might arrive on time."
--------

Marius Hancu

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

Veteran Member (11,673)

Conditionals, Past tenses, Tenses

milky

#240841 Wed, 28 Jun 06 12:30 PM

Teleostomi wrote:

1. I think he may not have noticed me.

When one wants to change 1 to the past tense, is it obligatory to change the tense of "may" into "might"?

2. I thought he might not have noticed me.

Or should "may" be preserved as such?

3. I thought he may not have noticed me.

Which is the sentence to choose?

"May (not) have" is just fine there.

milky

Joined on Thu, Jan 15 2004

Senior Member (3,149)

Hume said that if we had perfect or complete descriptive knowledge of reality, we could not, by reasoning, derive a single valid "ought".

Past tenses, Tenses

Ruslana

#240851 Wed, 28 Jun 06 12:59 PM

Do you mean that after the verb "thought", which is used in past, it's fine to use "may"? I thought he may not have noticed me? But what about sequence of tenses? Or I don't get something? Tongue Tied [:S]

Ruslana

Past tenses, Tenses, Verbs

Marius Hancu

#240871 Wed, 28 Jun 06 02:16 PM

"may" is a modal verb
as such, it's less related to tense than to mode/modality

Marius Hancu

Modal verbs, Modals, Past tenses, Tenses, Verbs

Teleostomi

#241171 Thu, 29 Jun 06 12:59 PM

Thanks to all concerned for your help!

Marius, you inspired me! I have another question related to your post. I hope I'm not bothering you too much, but I'd be very happy if you would take a look at it.

Teleostomi

Past tenses, Tenses

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