Might vs Must: Difference and Comparison

‘Might’ and ‘Must’ are two words in the English dictionary. These two words are used by a person in the sentence when it is needed to speculate something to someone regarding a specific thing.

Key Takeaways

1. “Might” indicates a possibility or likelihood, whereas “must” expresses a necessity or requirement.
2. “Might” suggests uncertainty and can be used to propose a hypothetical scenario, while “must” implies certainty and obligation.
3. “Might” can also be used to ask for permission, whereas “must” does not have this connotation and is more forceful in tone.

Might vs Must

When the word Might is used in a sentence, it denotes a sense of power that is accountable or a special force that a person influences on another person, and on the other hand, the word Must is used in a sentence, it denotes that a sure thing is mandatory or is essential for something to happen by a person.

The word ‘might’ is used in a sentence by a person to indicate that something may or may not happen depending on the performance of a specific situation at a particular time. This word is used to say that something may happen, but it’s not sure.

The word ‘Must’ is used in a sentence to indicate that something at some particular time is significant to be done or that something is necessary for something to happen or not happen. It shows a firm intention of doing or telling to do something.

Comparison Table

Parameters of Comparison	Might	Must
What it denotes	When the word Might is used in a sentence, it denotes a sense of power that is accountable or a special force that a person influences another person.	When the word Must is used in a sentence, it denotes that a sure thing is mandatory or essential for something to happen to a person.
Degree of intensity	The degree of intensity for doing something in ‘Might’ is less than ‘must’.	Doing something in ‘must’ is more intense than ‘might’.
Function	The use of ‘Might’ in a sentence denotes a possibility of an event happening without certainty.	The use of must in a sentence denotes the obligation of an event with certainty.
Type of communication	‘Might’ is a more formal way of talking.	‘Must’ is an informal way of talking.
Example	We might go to the park tomorrow.	We must wash our hands before eating food.

What is Might?

The word ‘might’ is used in a sentence by a person to indicate that something may or may not happen depending on the performance of a specific situation to a particular period. This word is used to say that something may happen, but it’s not sure.

The word ‘Might’ is used in a sentence. It denotes a sense of power that is accountable or a special force that a person influences another person.

Following are some examples where the word ‘Might’ is used in a sentence-

1. I might go to the party tomorrow.
2. She might cancel the test tomorrow.
3. He might not have been attentive in class at that time.
4. I might have been at the English class that day.
5. We all might go to the park tomorrow for a picnic.

What is Must?

The word ‘Must’ is used in a sentence to indicate that something at some particular time is significant to be done or that something is necessary for something to happen or not happen. It shows a firm intention of doing or telling to do something.

The word Must is used in a sentence. It denotes that a sure thing is mandatory or essential for something to happen to a person.

Following are some examples where the word ‘Must’ is used in a sentence-

1. She must attend online lectures every day of her classes.
2. You all must surely be there at our wedding.
3. You must be so tired today!
4. Wearing a mask for today is a must outside the road.

Main Differences Between Might and Must

1. When the word Might is used in a sentence, it denotes a sense of power which is accountable or a special force that a person influences another person. On the other hand, when the word Must is used in a sentence, it denotes that a certain thing is mandatory or is essential for something to happen by a person.
2. The degree of intensity for doing something in ‘Might’ is less than ‘must’; on the other hand, the degree of power of doing something in ‘must’ is more than ‘might’.
3. The use of ‘Might’ in a sentence denotes a possibility of an event happening without certainty. On the other hand, the use of must in a sentence indicates the obligation of an affair with confidence.
4. I might not go to school tomorrow is an example of the word ‘Might’ in a sentence, and on the other hand, I must go to school tomorrow is an example of the word ‘Must’ in a sentence.
5. Might is a more formal way of talking, and conversely, must is an informal way of speaking.

References

1. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/BF02295996.pdf