might get a fair night's sleep

English grammar questions, answered by Alan

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navit
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might get a fair night's sleep

Post by navit »

1) For that first year and a half, the days had gone moderately well, and
after Mamma and Pop were both in bed, Gene and I might each get a fair
night's sleep. He went to bed late and I got up early, but it was manageable
until...

Source:

https://tinyurl.com/23p5wx6s

https://www.google.com/books/edition/Re ... frontcover

Is '1 grammatical?
Does 'might' express possibility in the past?
Or does it mean that they did each get a fair night's sleep?

Maybe this usage is acceptable in certain dialects of English. It seems incorrect to me.


2) In those days, I might have four beers with my meal.


Is '2' grammatical?
The intended meaning is that that was possible, that was
something I did sometimes.

Gratefully,
Navi
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Alan
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Re: might get a fair night's sleep

Post by Alan »

Yes, this use of 'might' - reflecting its origin as a past tense form - is certainly possible, although relatively rare outside the confines of a subordinate clause.

The second, referring to an habitual past possibility, is somewhat more natural than the first.
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