August 8, 2025

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

May have/Might have and Must have: Modals Read More

‘May and might’ (Modal Verbs) – Use of Auxiliary Verbs

‘May and might’ (Modal Verbs)

Permission: to give or take permission;

 May I come inside the cabin? May I write?
Yes, you may come in. May I transfer money by phone pe? 
May I go to the loo? May I use your washroom?
May I help you? May l stay with you at night?
May I join them? No, you may not.

Note:May’ is a very formal style in comparison to ‘Can.’ It is frequently used in writing and speaking. 

‘May and might’ (Modal Verbs) are auxiliary verbs are used to express Possibility:

She may attend the meeting today. It may snow today in Shimla.
He may/might come to meet us. She may get late for the party.
They may help us in our financial condition. He may buy a new car this year.
He may pass the exams. It may be true what was spoken by her.

Optative sentences :

‘May’ is used to express wish/pray/curse.

May God bless you! May you get success in life!
May your grandmother live long! May your father get well soon!
May you live long! May you get married to a beautiful girl!
May your book publish soon! May You get selected in SSC CGL!

Might – past of may (‘May and might’ (Modal Verbs)

Might is the past of may that is used in indirect speech:

She said that he might win the race. He said that Rohit might talk to me.

 

Remote possibility (less possibility)

‘Might’ is used to express remote possibility in the place of ‘May’.

It might hail. She might climb the mountain.
He got late from coaching. He might come to the ground to play football. Yesterday we fought together that’s why she might tell the matter.
He told me that he might come today. Her father is in the hospital. She might attend the meeting.
She might go for a picnic because her exams are near. He hasn’t studied yet. He might pass the exams.

Purpose:  

“So that and in order” that are used to express purpose.

She studies a lot so that she may pass the exams. He worked hard so that he might earn money a lot.
My father fixed the deposit in LIC so that he might double the money. The birds come back around march, so that the month of April may be an excellent time to see nature for them to fulfil their requirements.
I will send you the books so that you may get them on time. I have made some stuff parathas so that we may take them on the way.
I am learning English in order that I may get a good job. I have done Post Graduation so that I may get admission in PH.D

‘May and might’ (Modal Verbs) are used as Progressive form:

He may be coming to Delhi to meet his friend. We may be getting late for our conference.
She might be doing yoga at the moment. She was tired. She might be sleeping now.
It may be raining there right now. She might be working in his company now.   (Possibly working now)
The bus might be coming to Jaipur from Delhi now. It’s too late to go to school. She might be playing badminton in school.
They might be running at this time. It may be raining in Mumbai.
Exercise:

Fill in the blanks with the suitable ‘May and might’ (Modal Verbs) or auxiliary verbs

  1. ……. I come inside the cabin? (may/might)
  2. ……. I use your washroom? (may/might)
  3. She said that he …… win the race.(may/might)
  4. ……you get well soon! (may/might)
  5. …..you get married to a beautiful girl!(may/might)
  6. It’s raining heavily. He ….. come. (may/might)
  7. He got late from coaching. He ………come to the ground to play football.(may/might)
  8. He told me that he……..come today. (may/might)
  9. Her father is in the hospital. She …… attend the meeting.(may/might)

10. He works hard so that he ……. earn money a lot. (may/might)

11. My father has deposited money in LIC so that he ……. double the money. (may/might)

12. I was learning English in order that I ….get a good job. (may/might)

13. He ………. to Delhi to meet his friend. (May be going /may be go)

14. It’s too late to go to the park. She ……. be playing badminton in school. (may/might)

15. I will send you the books so that you ……. 

get them on time.(May/might) 

‘May and might’ (Modal Verbs) – Use of Auxiliary Verbs Read More