May have/Might have and Must have: Modals

May have/Might have and Must have

Modals: “May have/might have and Must have” are used to express the possibility or chances of work being done in the past.

Might have–20 to 40% guess of something means chances were less to complete the task. “Might have” used for a complete guess or speculation for the past situation.

May have–50 to 60% chances of doing work. It shows more chances to complete the job.

Must have ­-
 It makes sure that action takes place with strong affirmation. It is sure that action definitely happened.

Structure for May have/Might have and Must have

Subject + may have/might have/ Must have + action III + object

We think it’s probably that action happened, but we don’t know. It means it was possibly done.

  For examples:

Did you see him stealing my keys? No, I didn’t. He may have stolen my keys.	Did you drive him to the railway station? Yes, I did. He may have reached Kanpur.
He might have gone home. (It’s less possible that he went home).	He studied with me. He may have got a job.
He told me a lie; he might have hidden the truth.	He revealed the secret of the company; he may have been paid money by another party.
She broke up with me. She may have connected with another guy.	He liked my golden watch; he might have stolen it in my absence.
She went to the cinema; she may have watched the movie with John.	The result was declared. He didn’t tell me. He may not have got good marks in the exams.
He may have left him alone on the way due to his rude behaviour. She might have left him in a lurch. (rare chance to leave him alone).	He may have fought with Radhika due to her other extramarital affairs.
He left India. He might have been settled abroad.	He might have come to attend the meeting there.
He may have reached Hyderabad for the next assignment till now.	I have to go right now. She may have cooked food.
She didn’t attend the class yesterday, so her teacher may have scolded her.	Gagan Sahrawat might have completed his post-graduation by now.
His friend might have retaliated with his enemy till now.	Prabhat Ujjwal might have confided his partner from his business plans.
He knew the fact. Therefore, he may have assured Panchayat.	He is going to attend the party that’s why he might have refused to come here.
The mother didn’t take her son’s money. Therefore, he might have gotten angry or got offended.	Gagan was doing before two years post-graduation. He must have completed it.
Gaurav Maheshwari, who is my friend, was learning Spanish previously. He was in the course’s mid. He is very brilliant. He must have learned Spanish.	He might have gone to the concert. (It is possible that he has gone to a concert, but it is also possible that he has gone somewhere else.)

 

“May have to and might have to” are used to express compulsion/obligation.

Sub + may have to/might have to + m.v.3 + obj.

He might have to change his location.	They might have to go to Chennai for other business plans.
She may have to shift from here.	Leave the office now. We may have to get ready soon for the party.

Must have

It is used to denote opinions based on known facts. It expresses past situations.

He met me on the way. He must have reached there.	He was brilliant. He must have solved the puzzle. I saw you there. You must have met him yesterday.
Rohtash Chauhan, who is my teacher, was running his institute of English. He was thinking of opening a new centre as well. He discussed and offered me a job before the opening. But I moved to Jaipur. I think he must have opened the English spoken institute.	She was pleased. She must have been selected for a job.

Click here to see the examples of Passive sentences of May have/Might have and Must have

Passive Voice of Modals – English Grammar (grammarsolution.com)

Exercise Of Modal Verbs (May have/Might have and Must have):

Choose suitable options.

I don’t have much knowledge about him. He ……….

a. Must have shifted to somewhere else’s.

b. Might shift to somewhere else’s

c. Might have shifted to somewhere else’s

2. He is not very intelligent. I think he ……. got selected in government by paying a bribe.

a. must have 

b. might have

c. might

3. My wallet isn’t in my pocket. It …….. been left in the train.

a. may

b. must have

c. might have

4. Did you see him playing football there? I didn’t see him but my brother who plays with him. He ………. Seen him playing.

a. may have

b. might

c. must

d. may

5.  The thief entered the house. Mr Morari woke up. He ………. Heard a crunch (sound).

a. must have

b. might have

c.  may

d. might

6. He has got selected in IIT. He ……….. studied a lot.

a. might have

b. may have

c. must have

d. might

7. He had got cold. It was raining heavily last night. I saw him going outside. He ………. wetted in the rain.

a. may have

b. must have

c. may be

d. might have

8.  Hearing a sound, He entered the room, and He speculated that she ………….committed suicide.

a. must have

b. may have

c. might have

d. might

9. My brother guessed that I ……….. stolen his wallet.

 a. must have

b. might have

c. may have

d. must

10. He became an IPS officer. He ………. Kept distance with social media websites.

a. must have

b. may have

c. might have

d. may