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In the last chapter, might and could represented the tentative form corresponding to may. They did not refer to past time, but to present or future. To refer to past time, we use may, might, or could with a perfect infinitive. No stetement was issued after yesterday's talks, but it is thought that the two parties may have reached agreement. ( = It is possible that they reached agreement) Might and could suggenst that the possibility is a little more remote. The two parties might/could have reached agreement. This sentence, however, is potentially ambiguous, and only the tontext or situation will make clear which of the following meanings is intended: It is just possible that the two parties reached agreement. (but we don't actually know whether they did or not) or in a conditional context: The two parties might/could have reached agreement (e.g.) if they had been prepared to be more flexible. (but we know they didn't in fact reach agreement) |