"I thought you might be late." vs "I thought you could be late."

Question

"I thought you might be late." vs "I thought you could be late."

Both phrases are correct, but they have slightly different meanings. 'I thought you might be late' implies a higher degree of certainty that the person would be late, while 'I thought you could be late' suggests a possibility or potential for lateness. The choice between 'might' and 'could' depends on the level of certainty or possibility you want to convey.

Last Updated: March 15, 2024

This phrase is used to express a higher degree of certainty that the person would be late.

Examples:

I thought you might be late, so I waited for you.
She thought he might be late, but he arrived on time.

Alternatives:

I thought you would be late.
I thought you were going to be late.

This phrase is used to suggest a possibility or potential for lateness.

Examples:

I thought you could be late, so I left a bit later.
She thought he could be late, but he surprised her by arriving early.

Alternatives:

I thought you might be late.
I thought you may be late.

Answer 1

I thought you might be late.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

Answer 2

I thought you could be late.

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English.

"I thought you might be late." vs "I thought you could be late."

I thought you might be late.

I thought you could be late.

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