Tag Archives: might or could

Could or Might?

Could and might mean different things, but a lot of people use them both to mean the same thing. Here’s a quick guide to avoid any confusion.

Here are two sentences that a lot of people think mean the same thing:

  • “I might [or may] go to the cinema.”
  • “I could go to the cinema.”

The first sentence means there is a chance the speaker will go to the cinema. The second sentence doesn’t. I know this is a bit picky and pedantic, but ‘could’ – like ‘can’ – comes from the verb ‘to be able to’, so the second sentence means either “I was able to go to the cinema” or “I would be able to go to the cinema.” Both of those are very different from the first sentence.

Adults might get away with confusing ability with probability, but if you’re taking an English exam any time soon, it’s probably a good idea to learn the difference!

 

 

 

 

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