In Modals^x, Subjunctives^x

The OED's 'may/might' entry takes us back to Fortiter's thread: JTT said: may and might. It may rain. It might rain. What’s the difference? ... might can also be used as a substitute for may to show diminished possibility. Thus, saying We might go to the movies means that the likelihood...

I notice that the OED includes 'might' under 'may'. It distinguishes between 'might' as a past indicative, and 'might' as a past subjunctive. The former is what we find in e.g. reported speech, as the reported form of 'may'. The latter is what we find in e.g. 'hypothetical' uses of...

CJ: Got it! I thought you meant something in the past with "plain 'may'", not "may have". I'm still wondering, though, if there's an example out there using "may" (not "may have") which works for the past. (Knickers adjusted and looking good.) JT: That's the thing about modals. With only a...

1. I could have made half a grand if they had got it in stock. (Why do I need 'had had got'? #2 is correct?) ** IMPORTANT, PLEASE READ ** {JJT's responses marked off by ++ ... ++} ** ++ Let's drop , Jack, as there are differences between the BrE and AmE/CdE that will needlessly complicate...

- (The choice was his alone.) If he is saying, "Not that I would but if did, then this would happen". "If I open the door, a tiger will ..." is allowing that it is a more real chance. Even a mixed conditional is possible, "If I open the door, a tiger would ..."

Mr P: The distinction is clear, and has nothing to do with {teeth on edge} 'inclusiveness': Let us have no more touchy-feely grammar. JT: I allowed that it might, Mr P. I didn't state that it did. You may want to adress this issue with Casi. But before you do that, consider that grammatical...

JT: Using would have made the conditional fall somwhere on a scale of more improbable to impossible in the speaker's mind. MrP: I would be interested to hear your description of this distinct nuance. JT: allows for a greater possibility; illustrates that the speaker is saying that "the...

Not subjunctive, but a modal auxiliary. 'Need' can be used as either: Modal auxiliary -- 'He need not worry about anything during his stay on Paradise Island.' Main verb -- 'He does not need to worry about anything during his stay on Paradise Island.' They carry the same meaning. Your...

Good morning Mister Micawber, So if I understood well what you said, the modals in the following sentences are not in the subjunctive but rather in the conditional mood. 1) I was afraid it MIGHT snow; so I stayed home. 2) However cold it MIGHT be, he would have a cold shower. 3) I...

Therefore, these dependent clauses are not in a subjunctive: 1) They worked day and night SO THAT the building MIGHT BE finished in time. 2) The Indians tribes were wiped out SO THAT civilization MIGHT advance. They are simply putative clauses of result, which require the modal of...