I thought he could come. vs I thought he might come.

Both phrases are correct, but they convey slightly different levels of certainty. 'I thought he could come' implies a higher degree of possibility compared to 'I thought he might come.' The choice between the two depends on the speaker's intended level of certainty.

Last updated: March 15, 2024 • 1090 views

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It implies a higher degree of possibility.

"I thought he could come."

This phrase is used when the speaker believed there was a good chance or possibility that he would come.

Examples:

I thought he could come to the party, but he had other plans.
She thought he could come to the meeting, but he was stuck in traffic.
They thought he could come to the concert, but he fell ill.
We thought he could come to the event, but he had a family emergency.
He thought he could come to the game, but he had to work.

Show examples from the web [+]

I would plan my family meals around when I thought he could come over.. and would be disappointed when he couldn't. How stupid- he never even knew I was ...
Jan 13, 2015 ... "At first I thought he could come talk to me all he wanted, but we would move forward and present it to a grand jury, but after talking to him I do ...
Feb 26, 2015 ... http://www.twinpossible.com. Our most beloved Memphis adores the snow just like any other Husky, but I thought he could come down to the ...
Jan 29, 2015 ... “I thought he could come in an help us there, but if you told me he would be leading the league in scoring right now, I don't know.” In 2010, four ...

Alternatives:

I thought he might come.
I thought he would come.
I thought he might show up.
I thought he might attend.
I thought he might make it.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English. It implies a lower degree of possibility compared to 'I thought he could come.'

"I thought he might come."

This phrase is used when the speaker believed there was a possibility, but not as strong as 'could.'

Examples:

I thought he might come to the party, but he seemed busy.
She thought he might come to the meeting, but he didn't confirm.
They thought he might come to the concert, but the weather was bad.
We thought he might come to the event, but he had a prior commitment.
He thought he might come to the game, but he wasn't feeling well.

Show examples from the web [+]

Oct 7, 2014 ... 'Robbie's legs were going a bit but I thought he might come up to us [at Sunderland] with his long hair, and give us a lift – the way Yorkie ...
I wanted to write "Cheeseburger In Paradise," but Jimmy Buffett had already done it. So I wrote what I thought he might come up with, were he inclined to write ...
Oct 7, 2014 ... Robbie's legs were going a bit but I thought he might come up to us [at Sunderland], with his long hair, and give us a lift – the way Yorkie ...
Oct 8, 2014 ... Robbie's legs were going a bit but I thought he might come up to us [at Sunderland], with his long hair, and give us a lift – the way Yorkie ...

Alternatives:

I thought he could come.
I thought he would come.
I thought he might show up.
I thought he might attend.
I thought he might make it.

How TextRanch works

Fast and reliable proofreading, editing, and language advice tailored to your needs.

1. Choose Your Service

Quick Text Editing

Emails and short texts
Proofreading & editing
Ready in 5-10 minutes

SUBMIT YOUR TEXT NOW

Document Editing

Documents of any type (*.docx)
Advanced & Premium editing
Ready in as little as 4 hours

UPLOAD YOUR DOCUMENT

Ask an Editor

Personalized answers to your language questions
Expert guidance on grammar, style, and usage
Ready in 24 hours

ASK YOUR QUESTION

Upload your document or paste your text directly into our platform. Your text is reviewed and refined by our expert editors (real people, not machines) who understand the nuances of English. Expect corrections, improvements, and insightful suggestions that enhance the clarity, tone, and professionalism of your writing.

3. Receive Your Polished Text

In just a few minutes (or hours for longer documents), you'll receive your corrected text. Review the changes, make any final adjustments, and confidently share your polished English with the world.
You can count on a personalized, friendly service every time you use TextRanch. We're committed to helping you make a great impression with every word you write.

We proofread and edit these types of texts and documents:

Short texts Business Emails Personal Emails Social media posts Resume and Curriculum Vitae Business documents Sales proposal Research and academic papers Thesis Dissertation Essays Articles Blog posts and much more....

Why choose TextRanch?

Complete Privacy

Your texts are safe and secure with us. We never share your information with third parties.

Affordable Pricing

No subscription fees and rates up to 50% cheaper than other online editing services.

100% Satisfaction

We guarantee that you'll be satisfied with the quality of our service or your money back.

Top Customer Service

Our team is here to help you with any questions you may have. Contact us anytime.

Our Customers Love Us!

We have an average rating of 4.79 stars based on 283125 votes, and

4.9 Excellent - Reviews 2.137

"7 years without any disappointment. Always 100% satisfied. You guys are the best in the world at what you do. Thank you so much :)"

Zubair
from Bangladesh

"I wasn't aware of this service, it's fascinating and more reliable than standard IA tools available on the internet"

Arturo
from Mexico

"In a world of text messages and online communication, this is great to have as a live tool. Thank you."

Selena
from USA

"Wow, it's just so excellent. I never would have believed I could have a sure and excellent English companion. Thanks, TextRanch."

Ifiok
from Nigeria

"This is my first time using TextRanch, and I like how the editors take time to correct my text. To everyone who has never used TextRanch before, I highly recommend trying it."

Wilson
from France

"It is an amazing source of feedback because, as a non-native speaker, I really need to have a reliable helper correct my text."

Susan
from Germany

I thought he could come. vs I thought he might come.