Episode 15: They Might Have Survived

might have: past possibility — Amelia Earhart, 1937 (B1-B2)

Grammar Box

Meaning: “Might have/may have/could have + past participle” express possibility or uncertainty about past events—when something was possible but we don’t know if it actually happened.

Form: might/may/could have + past participle

Example 1: “She might have called while I was out.” (possible past action, uncertain)

Example 2: “They could have taken the early train.” (acknowledging past possibility)

Common mistake: Wrong: “She might have went.” Better: “She might have gone.” (past participle, not simple past)

The Challenge

Luna couldn’t find her keys and wondered where she’d left them. “I definitely left them in the kitchen,” she said with certainty. Professor Wisdom appeared, raising an eyebrow. “Are you certain, or is that merely one possibility among several?” Luna paused, realizing she couldn’t actually remember for sure. The watch glowed with an uncertain, flickering light, taking them to a mystery that has haunted investigators for decades—a disappearance where certainty gave way to endless possibilities.

The Journey

On July 2, 1937, pioneering aviator Amelia Earhart and her navigator Fred Noonan vanished somewhere over the Pacific Ocean during their attempt to circumnavigate the globe at the equator. Their Lockheed Electra took off from Lae, New Guinea, heading for tiny Howland Island, a speck of land in the vast ocean. They never arrived, and despite the most extensive air and sea search in history at that time, no trace was found.

In the days following her disappearance, the U.S. Coast Guard and Navy searched thousands of square miles of ocean. Radio operators reported possible distress signals, but nothing could be confirmed. “She might have crashed in the ocean,” search coordinators theorized, examining maps and fuel calculations. “Or they could have landed on one of the uninhabited islands nearby. They may have survived the landing but been unable to signal for help.”

Each theory spawned more possibilities. “The radio signals could have been from Earhart,” investigators acknowledged, “but they might have come from other sources—ships, atmospheric interference, wishful thinking by operators desperate to find her.” The uncertainty was maddening. Unlike deductions where evidence points strongly in one direction, this situation offered only possibilities that couldn’t be confirmed or eliminated.

Decades of investigation have produced theories but no definitive answers. “She might have run out of fuel just short of Howland,” some experts believe. “They could have been captured by the Japanese,” others speculate, pointing to historical tensions in the region. “They may have made an emergency landing on Gardner Island and survived for days or weeks,” still others argue, citing artifacts found there that could have belonged to Earhart.

The smell of salt water and aviation fuel seemed to hang in the air as search planes continued their desperate mission. Crew members scanned the endless blue, knowing that Earhart and Noonan might have been floating in the ocean below, or they could have already perished, or they may have been on a nearby island watching planes pass overhead unable to signal them. Every scenario remained possible because evidence supporting certainty never emerged.

“We may never know what happened,” her husband George Putnam finally acknowledged years later. The simple truth was that she could have survived longer than anyone hoped, or she might have died quickly. The past held possibilities that would remain forever uncertain.

The Deep Dive

“Might have/may have/could have + past participle” express uncertainty about past events, typically around 30-50% probability that something happened. These constructions acknowledge possibilities without claiming to know what actually occurred. “She might have called” means it’s possible she called, but you don’t know for certain—maybe she did, maybe she didn’t. This differs completely from “She must have called” (near certainty based on evidence) or “She called” (definite knowledge).

The three forms—might have, may have, could have—are essentially interchangeable in modern English when expressing past possibility, with “might have” slightly more common in everyday speech. All indicate genuine uncertainty about whether something happened. Use these forms when you’re acknowledging possibilities without sufficient evidence to reach firmer conclusions. They’re perfect for speculation, alternative explanations, and discussing what was possible even if it didn’t happen.

Don’t confuse “could have” for possibility with “could have” for missed opportunity or regret, which carries different meaning. “She could have been a doctor” (possibility about past) differs from “She could have studied harder” (regret about unrealized potential). Context usually clarifies, but listen for the emotional tone. Also, remember the negative forms maintain the same uncertainty: “She might not have known” means it’s possible she didn’t know, not that you’re certain she didn’t know. For past impossibility, use “couldn’t have” or “can’t have”: “She couldn’t have known—she was out of the country.”

More Examples

History: “The Roanoke colonists might have joined local Native American tribes, or they could have perished from disease.” (historical uncertainty)

Science: “The experiment may have been contaminated—we should run it again to be certain.” (acknowledging possible explanation)

Everyday: “I might have seen him at the party, but I’m not sure—there were so many people.” (uncertain memory)

Formal: “The communication error could have resulted from several factors that require further investigation.” (professional acknowledgment of possibilities)

Informal: “We may have taken a wrong turn back there. Should we check the map?” (uncertain about past action)

Contrast: “She must have left” (logical certainty from evidence) vs “She might have left” (acknowledging possibility without certainty) vs “She couldn’t have left—her car is here” (impossibility)

Practice & Reflection

Exercises:

1. Fill in the blank: I’m not sure, but they __ (might have/must have) arrived while we were out.

2. Correct the mistake: “He might have spoke to her yesterday, I’m not certain.”

3. Choose and explain: Which shows uncertainty about the past?
   a) “She definitely missed the bus.”
   b) “She might have missed the bus.”

4. Rewrite: Change certainty to possibility: “I’m sure I saw him at the store yesterday.”

5. Compare: Explain the certainty difference: “He must have known” vs “He might have known.”

6. Your reflection: Think of something from your past where you’re uncertain what happened. Write about it using might/may/could have.

Answer Key:
1. might have arrived (shows uncertainty—possible but not certain)
2. He might have spoken to her (past participle “spoken,” not “spoke”)
3. (b) — “might have” shows uncertainty; (a) states definite knowledge
4. I might have seen him at the store yesterday—I’m not completely sure (changes to possibility)
5. First shows strong deduction from evidence; second acknowledges possibility without certainty
6. Check: Does might/may/could have + past participle express genuine uncertainty about past?

The Lesson

Luna stopped and thought more carefully. “I might have left my keys in the car,” she told Professor Wisdom, “or I could have put them in my bag. Or they may have fallen out of my pocket.” The Professor nodded approvingly. “Exactly. Unlike investigators who could deduce what must have happened to Lincoln from evidence, searchers couldn’t determine what must have happened to Amelia Earhart. They could only acknowledge possibilities—might have, could have, may have. Your grammar now respects uncertainty rather than pretending to certainty you don’t possess. Sometimes that’s the most honest thing we can say about the past.”